Bangladesh Seeks China’s Partnership in Green Revolution

Bangladesh sees China’s investment, technology and support as important for green industries and the shift to clean energy in Asia. However, Bangladesh wants this support to go beyond building infrastructure and making large investments. It wants to ensure the rights of local people, protect the environment and provide affordable electricity.

Sharif Jamil, a representative of Waterkeepers Bangladesh, made the remarks at a side event of the UN Climate Change Conference COP31 in Antalya, Turkey. He spoke about China’s role in promoting renewable energy.
Bangladesh is also moving towards renewable power to reduce its dependence on imported fossil fuels and ensure energy security. The government plans to produce 5,500 megawatts of rooftop solar power by 2030.
To achieve this goal, Bangladesh wants international investment, advanced technology and technical support along with local funding. The country made the call after supporting the Global Rooftop Solar Declaration at COP31 in Antalya.

Bangladesh, Kenya, Nigeria and Vanuatu supported the declaration on November 10. Australia had joined it earlier.
The global initiative aims to increase the number of families using solar power around the world to 300 million by 2030. It focuses on reducing the cost of rooftop solar systems, making approval processes easier, improving power grids and creating skilled workers.
According to Bangladesh’s plan, solar systems will initially be installed on about 870,000 rooftops.
Power Division Secretary Mirana Mahrook said 20 percent of the possible funding for the programme would come from local sources. The remaining 80 percent would require international support.
Under the plan, around 174,000 rooftops would get solar systems through local funding, while 696,000 rooftops would receive support from international sources.
The government wants to turn rooftops into a source of both electricity and economic opportunities. It is giving importance to easy financing, advanced technology and investment.
The rooftops of factories, commercial buildings and homes can be used to increase electricity supply to the national grid.
The government has already announced incentives to attract investment in rooftop solar power. A payment of Tk 10.50 per unit will be given for surplus electricity supplied to the national grid from solar systems installed with batteries.

For systems installed by February 28, 2027, this benefit is expected to remain effective until February 28, 2030.
There are also tax and duty benefits for importing solar equipment. The net metering system allows consumers to send their surplus electricity to the national grid.
The government is also taking policy steps to promote renewable energy. The Power Division website has published the National Renewable Energy Strategy 2026–2030, the Special Solar Power Installation Ordinance 2026, the National Rooftop Solar Programme and the Net Metering Guidelines 2025.
However, the effective implementation of these initiatives is now a major challenge.
The need for this change in Bangladesh’s energy sector has grown because of the country’s dependence on imports. A rise in prices or a disruption in supply in the global energy market can increase the cost of power generation and put pressure on the electricity supply system.

A 2026 analysis by the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) said 62.5 percent of Bangladesh’s primary energy came from imports in the 2024–25 financial year.
During the same period, renewable energy accounted for only 2.3 percent of grid-based electricity generation.
Against this background, Sharif Jamil of Waterkeepers Bangladesh called for the rights and interests of local people to be given importance in renewable energy investment.
Speaking at another side event of COP31 titled “China’s Role in Green Industrialisation,” he said China is one of Bangladesh’s important development partners. Its technology and financing can help develop the renewable energy sector.

However, he said such cooperation must be transparent, decentralised and democratic. The needs, rights and livelihoods of local people must be considered when planning and implementing energy projects.
Sharif Jamil said it is especially important to ensure affordable and reliable electricity for people who lack energy services and those who are at risk from climate change.
At the same time, the environment and natural ecosystems must be protected.
He said the benefits of investment in renewable energy should not remain limited to large industries or investors. Local communities should also benefit from it.
At the discussion, Indian representative Ravi Rebapragada said the old model of exploitative development should not be repeated in the name of green industrialisation.

He said partnerships in energy and mineral resources must include the consent of local communities, employment opportunities, independent monitoring and a system for affected people to seek justice.
Philippine representative Ian Rivera called for giving priority to small solar power projects led by local communities instead of large infrastructure-based projects.
Bangladesh’s energy experts are also stressing the need for long-term plans and stronger local capacity to promote renewable power.
Dipaal C Barua, chairman of Bright Green Energy Foundation, said the government’s recent policy steps to promote solar power are positive.

He said the special ordinance for solar power, tax benefits, financing systems and plans to create special funds could create new opportunities for factories and families living outside the national grid.
On the other hand, Dr Khondaker Golam Moazzem, president of Knowledge Hub Institute, said announcing targets alone would not increase the use of renewable energy.
He said it is necessary to build a strong local supply system in this sector.
He also said the financial sustainability of costly plans such as expanding LNG infrastructure and extracting domestic coal should be considered.
According to him, reducing dependence on fossil fuels and increasing electricity generation from renewable sources could reduce energy costs and pressure from imports in the long term.