Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus has urged a stronger focus on clean, safe, and affordable energy solutions to ensure sustainable economic growth.

In a statement issued by the Chief Adviser’s Press Wing on Saturday (Sept 20), Yunus made the call during a virtual meeting on Thursday evening with Carl Page, Chairman of the Anthropocene Institute, and his colleagues.

Professor Yunus stressed that as one of the world’s most densely populated and climate-vulnerable countries, Bangladesh cannot afford prolonged dependence on fossil fuels. He said the country must now seriously explore clean energy alternatives, with a particular emphasis on large-scale solar power.

Carl Page highlighted recent advances in next-generation nuclear technologies and hybrid systems, saying they offer reliable, zero-carbon electricity solutions. 

He pointed out that barge-mounted nuclear reactors could provide decades of low-cost, low-maintenance power for Bangladesh’s expanding industrial sector. 

Nuclear energy, he noted, is no longer excluded by major global financiers such as the World Bank, with countries like Indonesia already embracing the technology to meet growing energy demand.

Page added that Bangladesh has the potential to become a strategic hub for emerging technologies and a leader in peaceful nuclear innovation.

The Chief Adviser said the interim government has recently drafted a new national power policy aimed at accelerating solar energy adoption. He emphasised that any decision on nuclear options must be preceded by rigorous research and feasibility studies.

“Bangladesh must drastically cut its dependence on fossil fuels,” Professor Yunus said, calling for deeper exploration of promising new energy technologies.

The meeting was also attended by Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) Executive Chairman Chowdhury Ashiq Mahmud bin Harun and Senior Secretary and SDG Coordinator Lamia Morshed.

SMS/