Chief Adviser, Professor Muhammad Yunus has advocated for the establishment of a South Asia grid to enable the distribution of hydroelectricity produced by Nepal and Bhutan.
During a meeting with the Social Business Group, held alongside the climate conference in Baku on Wednesday (13 November), Dr Yunus highlighted that much of the hydroelectric potential in the Himalayan nations remains untapped due to the absence of electricity grids connecting Bangladesh, India, Nepal, and Bhutan.
Nepalese officials have stated that the nation has the capacity to generate 40,000 megawatts of hydroelectricity, offering an opportunity to reduce reliance on fossil fuels in larger countries such as India and Bangladesh.
"Bangladesh can easily import hydroelectricity from Nepal, as it is only 40 miles away," Professor Yunus emphasised, noting that Nepalese hydroelectricity would also be cost-effective.
He called on Bangladesh, India, Nepal, and Bhutan to consider forming a South Asian grid to facilitate this energy exchange.
Addressing the COP29 climate conference in Azerbaijan's capital, Professor Yunus reiterated that Bangladesh places utmost priority on water management, aiming to mitigate floods and maximise water use to enhance economic growth.
"Water is our primary environmental concern. We must manage it in a manner that benefits nature," the chief adviser asserted.
During the social business meeting, he also outlined the interim government’s focus on youth development and reforming the education system.
According to Professor Yunus, the government plans to host a youth festival in January, coinciding with the annual T20 Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) cricket tournament organised by the national cricket board.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino and International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach are expected to attend the festival, which will also feature a women's football tournament.
"We are aiming to host the festival across various regions of the country," he added.
Professor Yunus further elaborated on the interim government’s reform initiatives and the mass uprising in July and August that concluded the 15-year-long regime of Sheikh Hasina.
He also touched upon the key issues being discussed at COP29, particularly Bangladesh's ongoing negotiations concerning carbon credits.
