Chairman urges research-driven domestic extraction to ease forex pressure; panel explores industry-academia ties
CUET Holds Energy Symposium: BEPRC Stresses Indigenous Coal and Renewables
- CUET PME Department organizes national symposium on sustainable energy strategies and innovation
- BEPRC Chairman highlights shifting to environmentally managed domestic coal over imports to relieve forex reserves
- Administration urges researchers and students to leverage BEPRC grants and commercialize sustainable energy models
CHATTOGRAM: Highlighting the vital imperative of student-driven research and technical innovation to safeguard long-term energy security, Bangladesh Energy and Power Research Council (BEPRC) Chairman (Senior Secretary) Mohammad Wahid Hossain ndc advocated for maximizing domestic mineral utilization alongside renewable alternatives. He delivered the keynote address at a national symposium organized by the Department of Petroleum and Mining Engineering (PME) at Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology (CUET) on Wednesday morning, 16 September 2026.
The symposium, titled “Advancing Sustainable Energy Strategy for Bangladesh: Research, Innovation & Collaboration,” was hosted in the Academic Council Chamber, with CUET Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Abu Sadat Muhammad Sayem serving as the Chief Patron.
Addressing the assembly, Mohammad Wahid Hossain observed that curtailing import dependencies through the ecologically sustainable extraction of domestic coal reserves could provide decisive fiscal relief by easing macroeconomic foreign exchange pressures. He affirmed, "Simultaneously, we must tap into our immense renewable energy potential to guarantee sustainable baseload operations. Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is prioritizing clean energy transitions, and our young engineering minds must pioneer localized, scalable solutions to meet these challenges."
In his Chief Patron remarks, Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dr. Abu Sadat Muhammad Sayem stressed the balanced convergence of conventional and renewable paradigms. He urged faculty and students to formulate rigorous, competitive research proposals to capitalize on BEPRC research funds and institutional grants.
The event hosted Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) Chairman (Additional Secretary) Dr. Md. Rafiqul Islam and Dean of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering Prof. Dr. Mohammad Mizanur Rahman as special guests. PME Assistant Professor Md. Mizanur Rahman presented the welcome address, while Lecturer Sraboni Talukder moderated the proceedings.
The technical breakout featured presentations by Prof. Dr. Abu Sadat Muhammad Sayem, SREDA Director Engr. Md. Mujibur Rahman, and BEPRC Director Dr. Hasan Mahmud. The event concluded with a high-level panel discussion titled “Industry-Academia Collaboration in Bangladesh: Current Landscape and Future Prospects,” featuring the BEPRC Chairman, the CUET Vice-Chancellor, and former CUET VC Prof. Dr. Mahmud Abdul Matin Bhuiyan.
//DBTech/AIM/ SME/MIST//
