Environmentalists Demanded Increased Investment in Renewable Energy

24 Sep 2022 | 7: 26 pm

Environmental activists have demanded that Chinese President Xi Jinping stop investment in coal and increase investment in renewable energy. Speakers raised this demand at the human chain and rally held in Chandgaon area of ​​Chattagram on 20 September 2022 on the one-year anniversary of the fulfillment of the promise of the President of China in the United Nations General Assembly. The program was organized by the non-governmental, social development organization ISDE-Bangladesh and the Bangladesh Working Group on External Debt (BWGED).

Speakers at the rally held at the end of the human chain said that China is not only a close friend of Bangladesh, but also one of the countries investing in the development of Bangladesh. Besides, China is also the largest producer of solar power projects in the world. In February 2021, the Chinese authorities said in a letter that they will not make any more investments in air-polluting sectors such as coal power in Bangladesh. In addition, in September last year (2021), Chinese President Xi Jinping announced in his address to the United Nations General Assembly that no new coal-fired power plants will be built abroad. But Chinese banks and companies are yet to finance the construction of another coal-fired power plant at Payra in Patuakhali.

Hasan Mehedi, member secretary of BWGED, said in the program that there is a huge potential for solar and wind power generation in Bangladesh which can meet the country’s electricity needs. Therefore, China should help Bangladesh achieve 100% renewable energy through advanced technology and financing. The Bangladesh government has already adopted the Mujib Climate Prosperity Plan to implement 100% renewable energy by 2050. With China’s support, the government will be able to meet the targets of this plan very quickly.

ISDE-Bangladesh Executive Director S M Nazer Hossain said that the risk of health damage and environmental pollution of the common people as a result of coal power can cause dire consequences. Besides, the price of electricity generated from imported coal will go beyond the affordability of common people. Therefore, China’s investment in this sector will have a serious negative impact on the economy of Bangladesh. Therefore, China should defy the President’s promise and withdraw all investments from the coal sector.

Former President of Chittagong Journalists Union M Nasirul Haque, CAB Chittagong South District President Alhaj Abdul Mannan, Eminent columnist Md Musa Khan, District Social Entrepreneurs Parishad Joint Secretary Muhammad Jane Alam, Central Committee Member of Bangladesh Vegetable Exports Association Salim Jahangir, Bangladesh Kinder Garden Oikya Parishad Divisional Vice President Abu Yunus, Principal of Chandgaon Laboratory Model School and College Ismail Farooqui, Divisional Organizing Secretary of Bangladesh Kinder Garden Oikya Parished Mahbubur Rahman Durjoy, President of Cab Jamalkhan Salah Uddin Ahmad, Vice President of Cab Panchlaish Saima Haque, Leader of Ghatak Dalal Nimuul Committee Chittagong Sachitra Guha Tumpa, Cab Pahartali Haroon Ghafoor Bhuiyan, Human Rights activist Osman Jahangir, Shampa K Nahar of CSDF, Md Jahangir Alam of ISDE, Ariful Islam, Abu Hanif Noman, CAB Youth Group CTG, Organizing Secretary CAB Youth Group Mohammad Abrar Sujan Ayan, Publicity Secretary Imdadul Islam, Co-Publicity Secretary Russell Uddin, Office Secretary Abul Kalam, Information and Technology Secretary Abul Kasem, Members Naeem Muhammad Nisha, Salman Rashid Abhi and others spoke among others.