Online Desk :

Foreign Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud on Wednesday urged all to play a role in protecting the environment by using green energy like solar, wind and hydro-power, which don’t emit carbon. He made the call while inaugurating the 24th National Renewable Energy Conference at Senate Bhaban of Dhaka University (DU) in the city. The DU’s Institute of Energy and GreenTech Foundation Bangladesh jointly organised the two-day conference.

Dr Mahmud, also an environmentalist, said though Bangladesh is not a high carbon emitting country, but it is one of the worst victims of climate change caused by high carbon emission of the industrialised countries. The minister said there is no obligation for Bangladesh to reduce carbon emissions. “But our country is moving towards achieving the target of 40 percent green energy consumption of the total energy by 2041 in line with the plan of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, one of the pioneers of environment conservation in the world in fighting climate change,” he said.

Dr Mahmud, a part-time teacher at the Oceanography Department of Dhaka University, said there is no alternative to keeping the environment green and alive to protect this planet. That’s why it requires a conscious role from all, he added.

DU Vice Chancellor Prof Dr ASM Maksud Kamal presided over the inaugural session of the conference, while Principal Coordinator for SDGs Affairs at the Prime Minister’s Office Md Akhter Hossain, Executive Director of Infrastructure Development Company Limited (IDCOL) Md Alamgir Morshed and President of Bangladesh Solar Renewable Energy Association Engineer Md Nurul Akter and Chairperson of Sustainable and Renewable Energy Development Authority (SREDA) Munira Sultana also spoke on the occasion.

Associate Professor at the Institute of Energy Dr Nasif Shams delivered the welcome speech, while Advisor of GreenTech Foundation Khondkar Morshed Millat and its Executive Director Lutfar Rahman made the keynote speech and the vote of thanks respectively.