Bangladesh:
Environment, Forest, and Climate Change Affairs Minister Shahab Uddin stated on Monday, October 16, that Bangladesh has successfully installed over 6 million solar home systems in off-grid areas. He also said Bangladesh is progressing towards low-carbon green development in pursuit of sustainable growth.
The minister made these remarks during a meeting with Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to Bangladesh, Essa Yusuf Essa Al Duhailan, at his office in the Secretariat, Dhaka.
During their discussion, they focused on several key areas, including the transition to environmentally friendly technology in Bangladesh, technology transfer, assistance in implementing the National Adaptation Plan (NAP), and environmental protection.
Shahab Uddin emphasized that 12 percent of the population now has access to environmentally friendly electricity. Bangladesh is now prioritizing large-scale solar projects.
He highlighted that Bangladesh has already established 10 large-scale solar parks, 28 solar mini-grids, 2,881 solar irrigation pumps, 1,952 net-metered rooftop solar systems, and 8 solar-powered drinking water systems.
The environment minister also revealed that the government has introduced a groundbreaking ‘green tax’ known as the ‘Environmental Protection Surcharge.’ This measure aims to compel polluting industries to contribute extra funds to combat the increasing pollution of the country’s air and water.
Furthermore, he shared that the government has implemented a ‘carbon tax’ on certain car owners in the 2023-24 fiscal budget. This step is designed to reduce carbon emissions and encourage the use of public transportation and electric vehicles in the country.
