In light of the escalating challenges associated with climate change, the pursuit of a sustainable, renewable, clean, and plentiful source of energy has reached unprecedented importance. Accordingly, physicists have been investigating the energy released during nuclear fusion reactions, but the challenge of converting it into a viable source of energy has proven to be persistently difficult.

A team of experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) started observing and monitoring the preparation work of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant yesterday before the plant starts operation.
This is a pre-visit of the IAEA experts at the country's first nuclear power plant in Pabna, said Zahedul Hasan, project director of the Rooppur plant.

AS THE economy revives from the July uprising, concerns loom regarding the nation’s way forward to attaining the objective of undergoing the renewable energy transition in line with the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. A sub-target under SDG 7 makes it pertinent for all signatories of the pact, including Bangladesh, to substantially raise the share of renewable (or clean) energy in the yearly final energy consumption portfolios. Rather than enhancing this share, the energy sector in Bangladesh has, rather, intertemporally become more dependent on non-renewable, or unclean, energy resources.

The government has decided to ease net metering facilities for all in an effort to promote rooftop solar installations, as it aims to generate 40% of its total electricity from renewable sources by 2041, according to energy ministry officials.
Recognising the potential of solar power, the government has initiated an amendment to the net metering policy to encourage more users to adopt the system, reducing dependency on fossil fuel-based power generation.
Earlier, rooftop solar users could only transmit up to 70% of their generated electricity to the grid through net metering. The new amendment removes this limit, allowing users to send 100% of their excess solar power to the national grid.

Participants in a campaign on Saturday on the occasion of International Women’s Day 2025, urged the government for expanding renewable energy and increasing women's inclusion in the energy sector.
They stressed that to ensure sustainable development, women must have greater decision-making opportunities in the energy sector, and fair access to energy at all levels must be ensured.

Bangladesh now looks to import liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Saudi oil- giant Aramco under an envisaged long-term deal to reduce reliance on volatile spot market for the must-have fuel.
Market insiders say the country may import around 1.0-million-tonne-per-year (MTPA) of LNG, to begin with, from this year once the deal is inked.
The Saudi energy pact is coming close on the heels of such a long-term deal a US firm has already clinched to supply the liquefied gas meant to ramp up the fuel supply to energy-starved economy, industries in particular.

Re-evaluation of the Integrated Energy and Power Master Plan (IEPMP) is essential to reduce air pollution and carbon emissions, said experts at a policy dialogue on Thursday.
They suggested getting rid of dependence on foreign donors and consultants in policy formulation. It is also necessary to clearly include pollution reduction practices, strict emission regulations, and clean energy transition in the IEPMP, they said.

Re-evaluation of the Integrated Energy and Power Master Plan (IEPMP) is essential to reduce air pollution and carbon emissions, said experts at a policy dialogue on Thursday.
They suggested getting rid of dependence on foreign donors and consultants in policy formulation. It is also necessary to clearly include pollution reduction practices, strict emission regulations, and clean energy transition in the IEPMP.

Even though most of the agencies concerned are claiming that the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant (RNPP) is ready to start power generation, experts say that the plant is unlikely to be able to deliver any electricity before 2026.
According to official sources and industry insiders, there is still a long way to go before the RNPP can start commercial operation by the end of 2025.

The government has been in a dilemma regarding the energy security of the country. At one hand it has a large amount pending dues in the middle eastern markets for energy which we had secured earlier while we are struggling to pay local Independent Power Providers and local gas supplier, i.e., Chevron. Today our energy tenders are not being responded as this require a sovereign guarantee or we need to pay significant risk premium for anyone to touch it with a pole. At the same time, we have the warm season impending summer coming back when local demands will peak while we struggle to supply the gas guzzling manufacturing industries. Such catch-22 situation (a dilemma or difficult circumstance from which there is no escape because of mutually conflicting or dependent conditions) which makes it very difficult for the power regulators to manage. This is leading to regulators contemplating unprecedentedgas price hikes.

Re-energize Bangladesh, a pioneering initiative to accelerate the country's transition to renewable energy, was officially launched at the CCDB Climate Centre in Gazipur, Dhaka, in collaboration with the International Centre for Climate Change and Development (ICCCAD).
Led by Green Lead and recognised as one of the ICCCAD Youth Innovation Fund 2024 winners supported by the Embassy of Sweden, the initiative aims to provide a one-stop centre for renewable energy information, policy insights, and youth engagement opportunities. The launch event brought together policymakers, industry leaders, youth advocates, and climate activists to discuss the future of sustainable energy in Bangladesh.

THE transition to renewable energy in Bangladesh has been suffering due to an unfavourable investment environment. The Bangladesh Power Development Board has recently extended its deadline for the submission of proposals to tender calls for solar power plants because no investor has submitted any proposal. The BPDB floated three tenders for solar power plants with the capacity to produce 10-100 MW in phases starting from December 2024 but received no response from the investors so far. The BPDB officials are now planning to relax the eligibility criterion to encourage investors to take on the government’s renewable energy projects. Energy experts, however, do not think that flexible eligibility criteria are enough; there are other structural concerns.

The European Union (EU) will provide €68 million this year for the Rohingya response in Bangladesh and humanitarian aid for conflict-affected people in Myanmar’s Rakhine state, EU Commissioner Hadja Lahbib announced during a meeting with Bangladesh Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus.

Lahbib noted that while this year’s contribution surpasses the EU’s initial aid last year, it remains insufficient to prevent a worsening humanitarian crisis due to funding gaps. Prof. Yunus acknowledged the Rohingya issue as a major challenge for Bangladesh and emphasized the need for sustained international attention.

Russia has reiterated its commitment to facilitating the successful completion of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant (RNPP) with a strong focus on safety, quality, and compliance with international standards.
The pledge was made when Russian Ambassador to Bangladesh Alexander G Khozin called on Foreign Secretary Md Jashim Uddin at foreign ministry here yesterday (2 March), said a ministry's press release today (3 March).
During the meeting, the envoy briefed the foreign secretary on the recent visit of Alexey Likhachev, director general of State Corporation for Nuclear Energy ROSATOM of the Russian Federation to Bangladesh, and shared updates on the progress of RNPP project.

The factory authorities stopped fertiliser production as Bakhrabad Gas Distribution Company discontinued gas supply last night (1 March), said factory sources.
Deputy Director General of Bakhrabad Gas Company Jahidur Reza said, "The gas supply to Ashuganj factory has been suspended as per a government decision. It's up to the government to decide when the gas supply will resume. Maybe there won't be any gas supply this season."