BUET hosts three-day renewable energy festival

The three-day Renewable Energy Fest 2026 is being held at the central field of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) in Dhaka, bringing together policymakers, researchers, investors, young entrepreneurs and civil society representatives to advance locally grounded, sustainable and equitable energy systems. The festival aims to connect policy, technology and investment, creating opportunities to move renewable-energy innovations from development to practical implementation.

The second edition of the festival was announced at a press conference on Monday, October 26. It is jointly organised by ActionAid Bangladesh, BUET, the Just Energy Transition Network Bangladesh (JETNET-BD) and BUET’s Institute of Energy and Sustainable Development (IESD). Held under the theme “A Just, Inclusive and Green Energy Transition,” the event is expected to bring together more than 1,000 representatives of youth groups, women, workers, civic organisations and climate-focused initiatives.

Before the press conference, a rally was held from the Central Shaheed Minar to BUET’s central field. According to the organisers, around 200 people took part to raise awareness of renewable energy and the need for a just energy transition. A flash mob featuring 30 performers was subsequently organised by Suryodoy Youth Society.

Moving beyond fossil-fuel dependence

ActionAid Bangladesh Country Director Farah Kabir said climate change made it necessary to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and focus on innovation and renewable energy as alternative sources of supply. She stressed that Bangladesh should prioritise farmers, women and marginalised communities when planning, discussing and budgeting for an inclusive energy transition.

Professor Dr MAA Shawkat Chowdhury, director of BUET’s IESD, said energy was central to daily life, societal development and the use of resources. Although Bangladesh remains dependent on fossil fuels, he said the country must build its renewable-energy capabilities to strengthen future energy security.

Md Abul Kalam Azad, manager of ActionAid Bangladesh’s Just Energy Transition team and member secretary of JETNET-BD, said the organisers hoped the festival would help develop a just policy and investment agenda. He said the platform could support specific pathways for investment and partnerships, from innovation to implementation, and help produce a clear post-event action plan.

Nazmul Hasan, managing director of Hithium Energy Storage Technology BD Ltd, emphasised the need to strengthen oversight to ensure the quality of solar-energy components. The press conference was moderated by Farah Kabir. Anwar Hossain, executive director of The Earth Society, and Sanjida Sultana, additional executive director of Karmojibi Nari and Dhaka divisional coordinator of JETNET-BD, also spoke.

Innovation, technology and seed funding

The festival’s innovation and technology fairs are scheduled to be formally inaugurated on Tuesday, October 27, by Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku, according to the organisers. Expected guests include Tobias Biermann, First Counsellor and Head of the Green Economy and Public Sector Investments Section at the European Union Delegation to Bangladesh; Jacob De Leon, Second Secretary for Development at the Australian High Commission in Bangladesh; and Farah Kabir. Representatives from the European Union, Indonesia, Australia and Pakistan are also expected to attend.

The event will showcase renewable-energy technologies and services developed by local innovators and corporate organisations. The innovation fair will feature 20 stalls, while the technology fair will have nine.

The “Innovation-to-Impact Marketplace” will give startups and young entrepreneurs an opportunity to present their business models to investors and banks. According to the organisers, the most promising innovations will have an opportunity to receive seed funding.

Oxfam in Bangladesh will organise a dialogue on industrial decarbonisation. Other high-level dialogues and plenary sessions will examine energy policy and governance for a just transition; renewable-energy finance and investment; innovation, technology and infrastructure; and social and environmental safeguards. Experts from South and Southeast Asia are expected to share experiences from their respective countries.

Youth and public participation

The “Youth and People Hub” will again be one of the festival’s key attractions. Through dialogues, workshops, cultural activities, networking and community programmes, the hub will create opportunities for citizens, policymakers and private-sector representatives to exchange knowledge and experience. The organisers aim to strengthen public participation in Bangladesh’s transition towards a more inclusive and equitable energy system.

Expected participants on the final day include Shafiqul Alam, lead analyst at the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA); Engineer Md Mujibur Rahman, director of renewable energy development at SREDA; M. Zakir Hossain Khan, co-founder and managing director of Change Initiative; and Tanzina Dilshad, programme manager at the EU Delegation to Bangladesh. Md Sabur Hossain, chairman of the Bangladesh Energy and Power Research Council and an additional secretary, is also expected to attend.

The closing programme will recognise innovators, young leaders and partner organisations that have made contributions to renewable energy. The festival will conclude with puppet theatre and cultural performances. Professor Dr Mamun Ahmed, chairman of the University Grants Commission of Bangladesh, is expected to attend the closing ceremony as a special guest.

The festival’s co-organisers include the Bangladesh Energy and Power Research Council (BEPRC), Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS), Bangladesh Solar and Renewable Energy Association (BSREA), Centre for Climate Change and Environmental Research (C3ER), Greenery Energy Solution Ltd, IEEFA, Oxfam in Bangladesh and The Earth Society.

By bringing together government policymakers, researchers, businesses, investors, civil society and development partners, the organisers aim to establish a coordinated platform for developing practical actions towards a fair and sustainable energy transition.

//DBTech/OPRAH/SME/MIST//