The Prime Minister’s Advisor on Electricity, Energy, and Mineral Resources, Dr. Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury, called for more investment in Bangladesh’s renewable energy sector through the International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) of the United States government.
He made this request to the US Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy and the Environment, Jose W. Fernandez, in a meeting held at the US State Department in Washington DC on Thursday (18 August).
Dr. Chowdhury and Under Secretary Fernandez discussed the existing bilateral energy cooperation and expressed their commitment to strengthen it further. The Energy Advisor briefed the Under Secretary on the policies adopted by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government to make Bangladesh’s power and energy sector self-reliant.
He also highlighted how the Bangladesh government is diversifying power generation by using energy from different sources like gas, oil and coal, nuclear and renewable energy.
Noting that the current global energy shortage caused by the Russia-Ukraine war has put many countries, including Bangladesh, at risk in sustaining their energy security, the advisor drew the attention of the United States to play a role in improving the situation.
Dr. Chowdhury said that the United States should come forward to invest more in countries like Bangladesh through DFC financing. He encouraged US companies to mine oil and gas in the coastal areas of Bangladesh.
