Chief Adviser Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus has stated that Bangladesh must now move toward clean, safe, and affordable energy solutions to embark on a new path of sustainable economic development.
This was stated in a message from the Chief Adviser’s Press Wing on Saturday morning (September 20). Earlier, on the night of Thursday (September 19), during a virtual discussion with Carl Page, Chairman of the Anthropocene Institute, and his colleagues, Dr. Yunus said that Bangladesh cannot afford to remain dependent on fossil fuels for much longer. Therefore, alternatives such as solar power and barge-based nuclear reactors must now be considered essential.
Carl Page noted that nuclear energy is no longer restricted by international development organizations, including the World Bank. Countries like Indonesia have already adopted this technology to meet their growing energy needs. He referred to this as an opportunity for Bangladesh to take a leadership role in emerging technologies.
Dr. Yunus highlighted that Bangladesh has recently formulated a new National Power Policy, in which increased adoption of solar energy has been given priority. However, he emphasized that thorough research and feasibility assessments are essential before adopting nuclear alternatives.
He further stated that as one of the most densely populated and climate-vulnerable countries in the world, Bangladesh cannot afford prolonged dependence on fossil fuels. According to him, now is the time for Bangladesh to seriously consider large-scale adoption of clean energy alternatives, especially solar power.
During the discussion, Carl Page, brother of Google co-founder Larry Page, also presented the latest advancements in next-generation nuclear technologies and hybrid systems. He stated that these technologies are capable of delivering reliable, zero-carbon electricity.
The meeting was also attended by Chowdhury Ashiq Mahmud bin Harun, Executive Chairman of the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA), and Lamia Morshed, Principal Coordinator for SDGs and Senior Secretary to the Government.
