Young climate activists in the capital called for an urgent revision of Bangladesh’s Integrated Energy and Power Master Plan (IEPMP), voicing strong opposition to the plan’s continued reliance on fossil fuels with a warning that the current plan undermines climate goals.

As part of the Global Climate Strike, youth under the banner of YouthNet Global staged a peaceful demonstration on Friday in front of the National Press Club with 200 young people, demanding a just transition toward renewable energy and a greater share of international climate finance for Bangladesh. Similar events were reported in 50 districts across the country, involving students from schools, colleges, and universities.

The demonstrators, holding placards with messages such as “Time to move away from fossil fuels” and “We demand renewable energy, Don’t sell our future”, warned that the IEPMP could deepen the country’s dependence on expensive and polluting fossil fuel imports.Speaking at the rally, organisers said Bangladesh’s energy future should not be tied to fossil fuels, which are contributing to the climate crisis and threatening the lives and livelihoods of millions, especially in vulnerable coastal and low-lying regions.They stressed that the government must increase the share of renewables—such as solar, wind, and hydro—in the national energy mix and demanded transparent access to international climate finance to support a just and inclusive energy transition.YouthNet Global, a grassroots-led youth network working on climate justice and sustainability, has been at the forefront of the climate strike movement in the country since 2019.

The organisation said youth voices must be meaningfully included in national energy planning processes, including the National Determined Contribution (NDC).The activists at the rally collectively called upon multinational banks and institutions to stop investments in fossil fuels to effectively curb global temperature rise, while also urging for increased climate finance.While acknowledging the current government in Bangladesh stated a pro-climate stance, they pressed for concrete policies that would significantly boost investments in renewable sources.Expressing solidarity with the youth movement, Dr. Khondaker Golam Moazzem, Research Director at the Center for Policy Dialogue (CPD), strongly criticized the current IEPMP, describing it as a continuation of the previous government’s flawed planning.Moazzem said, “This plan set unrealistic forecasts for electricity demand, thereby serving the interests of influential groups involved in the fossil fuel business’’.He added, ``Following the political transition, it is now time to reform the IEPMP through necessary revisions. We hope that the new IEPMP will be locally financed, locally owned, and based on local solutions.’’Speaking at the rally, Sohanur Rahman, Executive Coordinator of YouthNet Global, underscored the need for transparency and inclusion in shaping Bangladesh's energy future. “The IEPMP must reflect the realities on the ground. We don't need a plan that benefits vested interests, undermines climate goals. But a fair and realistic roadmap that prioritizes local solutions, public transparency, and a decisive shift away from fossil fuel dependency towards renewable energy,” said Sohanur.“Now is the time for a people-centered energy transition—one that empowers communities, promotes renewable energy, and puts an end to the era of false solutions. Our future must not be sacrificed for the profits of fossil fuel interests,” he added.Joining the call, Professor Kamruzzaman Majumder, Chairman of the Center for Atmospheric Pollution Studies (CAPS), highlighted the environmental gaps in the current plan and urged policymakers to integrate climate considerations. “It is essential to revise the IEPMP to incorporate carbon emission guidelines for high-polluting power plants, which are currently absent,” Professor Kamruzzaman said. He added, “Moreover, it is critical to align the IEPMP with the Renewable Energy Policy Draft 2025 to ensure that Bangladesh’s energy trajectory is sustainable and climate-resilient.”The rally ended with a collective call to policymakers to rethink the IEPMP and align it with Bangladesh’s climate commitments, sustainable development goals, and aspirations for a greener, fairer future. Furthermore, they called upon polluting developed nations to fulfill their climate funding pledges and demanded unconditional debt relief for climate-vulnerable countries like Bangladesh.The Global Climate Strike, inspired by Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg and the Fridays for Future movement, has become a worldwide call for climate justice, particularly focusing on ending fossil fuel dependency. In Bangladesh, the movement is gaining momentum, with youth-led actions held across the country, involving students from schools, colleges, and universities, with young people increasingly vocal about the country’s energy future and a just transition.