DHAKA, Sept. 19: Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on Thursday called for Bangladesh to accelerate its transition toward cleaner, safer, and more affordable energy sources, warning that the country’s heavy reliance on fossil fuels is unsustainable in the face of climate risks and economic pressures.
Speaking at a virtual conference with Carl Page, chairman of the Anthropocene Institute and brother of Google co-founder Larry Page, Yunus said large-scale solar power adoption and emerging nuclear technologies could transform Bangladesh’s energy future.
“It is time for Bangladesh to seriously consider clean energy alternatives, including large-scale solar deployment,” Yunus stressed, noting that the interim government has already introduced a national power policy to push solar adoption.
Carl Page highlighted advances in next-generation nuclear technologies, including barge-mounted reactors offering reliable, zero-carbon power for decades. He said such systems are now backed by institutions like the World Bank and have been deployed in countries such as Indonesia.
“Bangladesh can serve as a strategic hub for emerging technologies and a peaceful leader in atomic innovation,” Page said, adding that hybrid nuclear systems can ensure energy price stability, job creation, and industrial competitiveness.
Yunus, while open to exploring nuclear options, emphasized the need for rigorous research and feasibility assessments before any decision. “There is no question—Bangladesh must drastically reduce its dependence on fossil fuels,” he said.
The conference was also attended by Bangladesh Investment Development Authority Executive Chairman Chowdhury Ashiq Mahmud Bin Harun and Senior Secretary for SDGs Affairs Lamiya Morshed.