The three-day “Renewable Energy Fest 2026” began on Monday at the BUET Central Playground in Dhaka, bringing together youth groups, women’s organisations, labour communities and climate action networks to demand a sustainable and just energy transition.
The event is jointly organised by ActionAid Bangladesh, BUET, JETnet-BD and BUET’s Institute of Energy and Sustainable Development. It was preceded by a rally from Shaheed Minar and a flash mob by 30 artists, said a press release.
ActionAid Bangladesh Country Director Farah Kabir said climate change demands that the world move away from fossil fuels and shift focus toward renewable energy. “Bangladesh now stands at a critical juncture where it is essential to think, discuss, plan, and take concrete action, with appropriate budgetary commitments, on inclusive renewable energy and just transition, with farmers, women, and marginalised communities at the centre,” she said.
IESD Director M A A Shoukat Choudhury emphasised the vital role of energy in every sphere of life. “While we remain dependent on fossil fuels, we must build our capacity in renewable energy to ensure our energy security for the future,” he added.
In his written statement, ActionAid Bangladesh Just Energy Transition Team Manager and JETnet-BD Member Secretary Abul Kalam Azad expressed hope that the event will give rise to an equity-based policy and investment agenda, producing a clear post-event action plan.
Hithium Energy Storage Technology BD Ltd Managing Director Nazmul Hasan highlighted the need to strengthen oversight mechanisms to ensure the quality of solar energy components.
The festival features an Innovation and Technology Fair, to be inaugurated on Tuesday by Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hassan Mahmood Tuku, alongside an Innovation-to-Impact Marketplace for startups and a Youth and People Hub. UGC Chairman Professor Dr Mamun Ahmed will attend the closing ceremony.
