The Institute for Policy, Advocacy, and Governance (IPAG), in association with the Hydrocarbon unit, Energy & Mineral Resources Division, Government of Bangladesh organized a Seminar on the occasion of the International Energy Efficiency Day 2017 on March 5, 2017 (Sunday) at The Radisson Blu Dhaka Water Garden Hotel.

The event was the first of its kind to be celebrated in Bangladesh. Energy Efficiency has gradually elevated to become the most important component of energy security as demand continues to rise with clean supplies yet to match the growth. The event brought together key policymakers, national & international experts, academics and business leaders under one platform to impart, deliberate and discuss on the best practices of energy efficiency around the world. Experts from Singapore, India and China made keynote presentations during the event to share best practices in their sectors.

The Inaugural Program was attended by Nasrul Hamid MP, State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resource, Government of Bangladesh, Nazimuddin Chowdhury, Secretary, Energy & Mineral Resources Division, Government of Bangladesh and Mr. Syed Munir Khasru, Chairman, IPAG. A short video prepared by IPAG was screened at the inaugural session which helped trace the roots of the Energy Efficiency Day and highlight the needs for energy efficiency in Bangladesh.

Mr. Nasrul Hamid MP, in his speech, highlighted the importance of promoting, creating and providing opportunities for improved energy consumption habits and use of alternative energy sources for domestic and industrial usage in Bangladesh. Mr. Nazimuddin Chowdhury put forward Bangladesh’s success in energy efficiency through the country’s Solar Home Systems, which has the fastest penetration rate in the world. Mr. Khasru, Chairman, IPAG, underscored the need for leveraging energy efficiency’s status of “hidden fuel” to achieve energy security through sustainable practices.

The seminar was structured into 3 panel discussions with international experts from Singapore, China and India sharing their best practices and deliberating on their feasibility in the context of Bangladesh. The training and discussions were aimed towards equipping policymakers with the ability to make informed decisions for promoting energy efficiency practices in Bangladesh.