The first Forum on Ecology and Development (FED) 2026 in Khulna spotlighted rooftop solar and community-led initiatives as pathways toward sustainable energy, equitable development, and reduced dependence on fossil fuels.
Community-led renewable energy initiatives and rooftop solar systems were highlighted as practical pathways toward sustainable energy management during the first Forum on Ecology and Development (FED) Conference 2026, a two-day gathering that concluded in Khulna on Saturday.
The conference, held on March 6–7, brought together more than a hundred participants from across Bangladesh to discuss electricity and energy challenges at local and national levels and explore solutions that support environmentally sustainable and socially just development.
Organizers said the event aimed to promote evidence-based dialogue, strengthen the voices of vulnerable communities and identify actionable strategies for transitioning to cleaner energy systems.
The theme of this year’s conference, “Rooftop Revolution: Powering a Just Bangladesh,” highlighted the role of renewable energy management in building a more inclusive and equitable society.
Participants discussed how installing solar photovoltaic (PV) systems on residential rooftops could help urban and rural communities increase energy self-reliance, reduce dependence on centralized electricity grids and contribute to national decarbonization goals.
Several sessions focused on integrating local initiatives, solar PV technologies, community-based energy projects and eco-friendly solutions to develop a sustainable and equitable energy ecosystem in Bangladesh.
Hasan Mehedi, Member Secretary of the Bangladesh Working Group on Ecology and Development (BWGED), emphasized the economic urgency of transitioning to renewable energy.
“Residential electricity tariffs have increased by nearly 300 percent over the past decade with current peak tariffs reaching BDT 14.61 per kWh,” he said. “At the same time Bangladesh spends billions of dollars on fossil fuel imports depleting national reserves to USD 23.1 billion which is sufficient to cover only 4.1 months of import costs.”
Mehedi said environmental sustainability and equitable development can advance together through community-driven renewable energy initiatives.
“We firmly believe that environmental sustainability and just development are mutually achievable,” he said. “FED Conference 2026 enabled a constructive exchange on local renewable energy opportunities systemic challenges and misconceptions enhancing our collective knowledge and motivating action toward a stronger sustainable and equitable Bangladesh.”
The conference featured applied and solution-oriented discussions examining electricity and energy challenges as well as gender rights and the concerns of vulnerable communities. Participants also explored innovative policy approaches for implementing environmentally sustainable practices at both local and national levels.
The conference was officially inaugurated on March 6 by Hasan Mehedi and presided over by Professor Anwarul Kadir, Convener of FED Khulna.
Other notable participants included Begum Rehana Akhtar, Co-Convener of FED Khulna; Sajjadur Rahim Pantha, chairman of the Coastal Livelihood and Environmental Action Network (CLEAN); and Rekha Maria Bairagi, executive director of Dhrubo.
Organizers said the FED Conference 2026 aims to strengthen participatory and community-led approaches in Bangladesh by promoting renewable energy adoption, reducing reliance on centralized electricity systems and supporting long-term cost efficiency.
They noted that rooftop solar PV still faces barriers such as high upfront costs, limited rooftop availability, technical literacy gaps and weather-related dependency.
However integrating rooftop solar with centralized and community-based energy systems could provide practical and sustainable outcomes.
The initiative by the Forum on Ecology and Development (FED) highlights the potential for expanding renewable energy solutions at the local level while supporting Bangladesh’s commitments to environmentally responsible and socially equitable energy systems.
