Speakers in Chattogram warned that heavy reliance on fossil fuels is deepening Bangladesh’s energy crisis, urging increased investment in renewables and greater awareness among students to secure sustainable energy future.
Speakers at an awareness campaign on green energy in Chattogram said on Wednesday that there is no alternative to increase investment in renewable energy to strengthen the country’s energy capacity, warning that Bangladesh’s heavy dependence on fossil fuels has pushed the nation into a severe crisis.
They said fuel shortages were forcing people to wait for days at petrol pumps and disrupting normal operations at industries, factories, offices and courts, even when money was available. Had the country built stronger capacity in renewable energy, they said, the wheels of the economy could have kept moving.
The speakers also stressed the need to reduce dependence on fossil fuels from now on and place greater emphasis on renewable energy. At the same time, they called for more public awareness programmes like the green energy campaign in primary and secondary schools to raise awareness among the younger generation about the use of green and sustainable energy.
The remarks were made at a prize-giving ceremony for essay and drawing competitions held under a green energy awareness campaign for primary and secondary schools at Kapasgola City Corporation Girls’ High School in Chattogram city on April 15, 2026.
The programme was organised by private development organisations ISDE Bangladesh, CLEAN and BWGED.
The event was chaired by the school’s head teacher Ruma Barua and conducted by CAB Chattogram divisional organiser Rasel Uddin.
Among those who addressed the ceremony were CAB central committee Vice President and ISDE Executive Director S M Nazer Hossain, senior teacher Abdul Mannan, CAB Chandgaon Thana President Md Jane Alam, ISDE Bangladesh Project Coordinator Shampa K Nahar, Project Officer Raisul Islam and Admin Officer Abdul Mannan Jihad.
In the drawing competition, Sohaila Karim Chowdhury of Class 9 secured first place, Tahiyat Tarannum Arshi of Class 9 came second and Tunajjia Nur of Class 10 came third.
In the essay competition, Unaicha Amrin of Class 10 won first place, Adowa Jahan of Class 10 came second and Moumita Das Barsha of Class 10 finished third.
A large number of students from the school took part in the campaign enthusiastically.
Head teacher Ruma Barua said the country was facing a serious threat because of its dependence on fossil fuels. She said it was becoming increasingly difficult to collect fuel oil and that even imports were not possible despite having money. She added that more awareness programmes on green energy and sustainable energy should be organised among students of the next generation so that the whole nation could benefit.
S M Nazer Hossain said Bangladesh had failed to achieve capacity in the energy sector because of its dependence on fossil fuels. As a result, he said, fuel oil was unavailable despite having money because of the Iran war, putting the country’s energy security under threat.
He said that if investment in renewable energy had been increased, the country would not have faced such threats in difficult times. He added that there was no alternative to government initiatives, alongside public awareness, to strengthen green energy capacity.
He said the main goal of organising such events at primary and secondary schools was to create public awareness among young students about the use of environment-friendly green energy and to encourage the future generation to use sustainable energy.
