The theme of the August 2023 issue of Thinking Aloud is “Energy landscape of Bangladesh”. The first page article, “The future of renewable energy in Bangladesh” analyses the prospects of renewable energy sector in Bangladesh by examining the relevant policies, challenges and proposes the way forward. Set against the backdrop that the energy sector in Bangladesh is heavily dependent on fossil fuels, the article remarks that the progress towards switching to renewable energy in Bangladesh has remained very slow and uncertain. In order to transform Bangladesh’s energy systems and speed up the shift to renewable energy in the next decade or so, a few critical actions the country need to be prioritized. The second, third, and fourth pages of this issue present three more articles. The second article titled “Solar Energy Landscape in Bangladesh: Prospects and Problems” argues that Bangladesh’s solar industry shows progress, but it falls short of meeting the necessary pace to fulfill global and national renewable energy commitments. The article further suggests that in line with expert recommendations, developing a comprehensive funding roadmap, offering industry incentives, and implementing smart grid solutions can help to bridge the gap and move closer to achieving our renewable energy objectives. The third article titled, “Potential risks and vulnerabilities associated with heavy reliance on LNG import and strategies to reduce them” discusses the implications of rising LNG import in the context of Bangladesh’s energy security. The article explains the potential risks and vulnerabilities associated with heavy reliance on LNG imports. The fourth article titled “Renewable Energy in Budget FY 23-24: Understanding the Shortfall” remarks that it is imperative that Bangladesh strongly pursues the renewable energy pathway. The article concludes that, to achieve the government’s stated goals of adopting renewable energy and upholding its climate commitments, there is no alternative to prudent management of budgetary tools and fiscal space. The fourth page showcases the events of July 2023 and shares the call for the 19th round of the South Asian Economics Students’ Meet (SAESM).
