The second edition of the three-day Renewable Energy Fest 2026 began today at the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet) Central Playground in the capital. It aims to build a sustainable, resilient, and just energy system grounded in indigenous resources.
ActionAid Bangladesh, Buet, Just Energy Transition Network Bangladesh and the university's Institute of Energy and Sustainable Development are jointly organising the festival under the theme "A Just, Inclusive and Green Energy Transition," according to a press release.
Organisers outlined the festival's programme at a press conference at the venue on Monday (26 October, 2026). The event brings together representatives from youth groups, women's organisations, labour communities, civil society, and climate action networks.
Before the press conference, more than 200 participants joined a rally from Shaheed Minar to the Buet Central Playground to raise awareness of the urgent need for renewable energy and a just energy transition. This was followed by a flash mob performed by 30 artists and organised by Surjodoy Youth Society.
Farah Kabir, country director of ActionAid Bangladesh, moderated the press conference. Md Abul Kalam Azad, manager of ActionAid Bangladesh's Just Energy Transition Team and member secretary of Just Energy Transition Network Bangladesh, presented the festival's overall framework in a written statement.
Others addressing the press conference included Professor Dr MAA Shoukat Choudhury, director of Buet's Institute of Energy and Sustainable Development; Anwar Hossain, executive director of The Earth Society; Nazmul Hasan, managing director of Hithium Energy Storage Technology BD Ltd; and Sanjida Sultana, additional executive director of Karmojibi Nari and Dhaka divisional coordinator of Just Energy Transition Network Bangladesh.
Speaking at the press conference, Farah said, "Climate change demands that the entire world move away from fossil fuels and shift focus towards innovation, discovery, and renewable energy as alternative sources of energy supply. Bangladesh now stands at a critical juncture where it is essential to think, discuss, plan, and take concrete action, with appropriate budgetary commitments, on inclusive renewable energy and just transition, with farmers, women, and marginalised communities at the centre."
Shoukat said, "Energy is a vital component in every sphere of life, from our daily existence to civilisational development and resource valuation. While we remain dependent on fossil fuels, we must build our capacity in renewable energy to ensure our energy security for the future."
In his written statement, Azad said, "We hope this event will give rise to an equity-based policy and investment agenda and serve as a national and regional platform for building concrete pathways, from innovation to implementation, through investment and partnerships. We also expect it to produce a clear post-event action plan."
Nazmul emphasised the need to strengthen oversight mechanisms to ensure the quality of solar energy components.
The festival aims to serve as a national and regional coordination platform, bringing together policy, markets and people.
Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hassan Mahmood Tuku, MP, is scheduled to formally inaugurate the Innovation and Technology Fair tomorrow, Tuesday (27 October).
Other guests scheduled to attend the inauguration include Tobias Biermann, first counsellor and head of section for green economy and public sector investments at the EU Delegation to Bangladesh; Jacob de Leon, second secretary for development at the Australian High Commission in Bangladesh; and Farah Kabir.
Representatives from the European Union, Indonesia, Australia, and Pakistan are also scheduled to attend the inauguration ceremony.
Following the inauguration, guests will visit the festival's hubs and stalls. The Innovation Fair and Technology Fair will showcase advanced renewable energy technologies and services from domestic innovators and corporate entities, with 20 stalls in the Innovation Fair and nine in the Technology Fair.
The "Innovation-to-Impact Marketplace" will give start-ups and young entrepreneurs a platform to present their business models to investors and banks, with the most promising innovations receiving seed funding. Oxfam Bangladesh will also organise a dialogue on industrial decarbonisation.
Speakers on the final day will include Shafiqul Alam, lead analyst at the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis; Engineer Md Mujibur Rahman, director of renewable energy development at the Sustainable and Renewable Energy Development Authority; M Zakir Hossain Khan, co-founder and managing director of Change Initiative; Tanzina Dilshad, programme manager at the EU Delegation to Bangladesh; and Md Sabur Hossain, additional secretary and chairman of the Bangladesh Energy and Power Research Council.
Several high-level parallel dialogues and plenary sessions will examine the national and regional context of the energy transition.
The sessions will cover energy policy and governance for a just transition, financing and investment in renewable energy, innovation, technology and infrastructure, and social and environmental safeguards in the energy transition.
Experts from South and Southeast Asia will share their countries' experiences, focusing on lessons for Bangladesh's transition.
Innovators, young leaders and partner organisations that have made outstanding contributions to the renewable energy sector will also receive recognition and awards.
The festival will conclude with a puppet show and cultural performances. University Grants Commission Chairman Professor Dr Mamun Ahmed is scheduled to attend the closing ceremony as a special guest.
As in the previous year, the "Youth and People Hub" remains one of the festival's main attractions. Through dialogues, workshops, cultural activities, networking sessions, and community shows, the hub will create opportunities for learning, collaboration, and the exchange of experiences among citizens, policymakers, and private-sector representatives.
These activities aim to empower people to contribute actively to an inclusive and just energy transition in Bangladesh.
The festival's co-organisers include the Bangladesh Energy and Power Research Council, Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies, Bangladesh Solar and Renewable Energy Association, Centre for Climate Change and Environmental Research, Greenery Energy Solution Limited, Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis, Oxfam in Bangladesh and The Earth Society.
The festival's overarching goal is to bring government policymakers, researchers, the private sector, investors, civil society and development partners onto a single platform and produce a concrete, action-oriented plan following the event.