People deserves transparency regarding the laws governing the energy sector, speakers said at a roundtable yesterday. 

"People are not aware of the national energy policies and how they impact them," said Dr Kamal Hossain, an eminent jurist. 

The discussion was organised by Lawyers for Energy, Environment and Development, Coastal Livelihood and Environmental Action Network (CLEAN), and the Bangladesh Working Group on Ecology and Development, who launched a book compiling 22 laws pertaining to the energy sector of Bangladesh. 

The discussion was held at the Bishwo Shahitto Kendro.

Hasan Mehedi, chief executive of CLEAN, questioned how the country could aim to generate 40 percent of its energy from renewable sources when it has not repealed past policies focusing on the expansion of fossil fuel-powered energy sources. 

"We have made many contrasting policies in the past," said Mehedi. "Previous energy policies predicted that we would need 40,000 MW by this year, but currently we only need 16,000 MW." 

"We should be exporting electricity, not having an energy sector dependent on imports," he added, pointing out that multiple studies have shown Bangladesh can generate up to 30,000 MW of electricity from wind. 

Speakers also discussed the risks of challenging various laws during the previous Awami League-led government. 

"We could not garner the courage to challenge the indemnity clause of the law during the previous regime," said Dr Quazi Zahed Iqbal, an advocate of the Supreme Court. 

CR Abrar, executive director of the Refugee and Migratory Movements Research Unit, said, "We need clarity on how international agencies helped the state against the people's interests." 

Speakers highlighted the need to document the political backdrop in which anti-people laws were drafted. 

"Electricity is neither affordable nor universal, yet the general public are paying through the nose for it," said Sekender Ali Mina, executive director of the Safety and Rights Society.

News Link: Energy laws lack transparency