As part of its initiative to promote renewable energy adoption at the local level, Participatory Research & Action Network- PRAAN recently organized a sharing meeting titled โPotential of Renewable Energy to Improve Citizen Services & Economic Development at the Municipality Levelโ at Charghat Municipality in Rajshahi district, Bangladesh on April 28th, 2024.
The event aimed to raise awareness about the importance of renewable energy and assess the readiness of municipalities, using Charghat as a representative case study. The primary objective was to facilitate collaboration and knowledge-sharing among stakeholders to accelerate the adoption of renewable energy in municipalities and foster sustainable development.
The meeting commenced with Zahid Mohammad Imran, Programme Officer of PRAAN presenting the findings ofย ย a study on the potential of municipalities in promoting renewable energy at the local level. Moderated by Rashed Ripon, Director of Paribartan, the event ensured active participation from all stakeholders relevant to initiating the discussion of the importance of renewable energy at the local level. Charghat municipality Mayor Ekramul Hoque provided insights into the Municipality’s efforts
and challenges regarding renewable energy integration in recent years.
Participants engaged in interactive discussions, exchanging ideas, experiences, and best practices related to renewable energy integration in municipal operations. They identified opportunities for collaboration and discussed strategies for overcoming challenges to adoption. They agreed that in order to achieve high goals according to the governmentโs Vision 2041, Bangladesh Delta Plan 2100 shifting to renewable energy sources is a must. The local-level governments will have to be engaged in the energy transition to achieve the goals of MCPP.
Some challenges were highlighted during the meeting which included procurement issues and political concerns regarding renewable energy projects. The recommendations from the participants included establishing transparent procurement processes, providing capacity-building programs for municipal officials, engaging the community through consultations and awareness campaigns, implementing rigorous quality assurance measures, and securing political support.
The event served as a platform for stakeholders to explore and discuss the potential of renewable energy in improving citizen services and stimulating economic development at the municipal level. It fostered collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and awareness, laying the groundwork for future initiatives aimed at integrating renewable energy into Charghat Municipality’s operations.
More than 40 representatives from various sectors including local administration, academic institutions, media, civil society, and representatives from PRAAN and Paribartan participated in this workshop.
