Sreda chairman Mohammad Alauddin disclosed the plan while presiding over a workshop on “Prospect and Challenges of Hydrogen Fuel in Bangladesh” at Sreda Auditorium in the city on Monday. 

Senior Secretary of the Science and Technology Ministry Anwar Hossain and Power Division secretary Habibur Rahman, who were present at the workshop, supported the Sreda idea and assured all-out support to implement the plan.

At present, BCSIR has been implementing a project “Establishment of Hydrogen Energy Laboratory” in Chattogram for conducting research and development work. 

Making a presentation on the issue, project director and senior principal engineer of BCSIR Abdus Salam said there is a huge prospect of hydrogen fuel production in Bangladesh which mainly comes from biomass. 

But researches are going on to produce hydrogen fuel from water as well at a lower cost, he added.  

He said hydrogen fuel will emerge as a new item in renewable energy as it will meet most of the energy needs in power generation, industrial operation, transport sector, specially motor vehicles and train operation in the coming days as developed countries are developing new technologies in this regard. 

Secretary Anwar said the Science and Technology Ministry is very keen to develop hydrogen fuel and introduce vehicles powered by hydrogen on pilot basis. He acknowledged that it might not be very cost effective at first.

“But over time, the cost of hydrogen fuel production will substantially come down like solar energy and then it’ll be affordable energy for the middle class,” he said.

He said if Bangladesh starts research ahead of other countries, it will definitely remain in an advanced position to introduce such new technology in the future.

Power Secretary Habibur Rahman said the Power Division will welcome any initiative to develop the new energy and extend full support. 

BCSIR Chairman Prof Dr Aftab Ali Sheikh said many countries in the world started research works on hydrogen fuel and the BCSIR will make its full effort to find out a solution to make the new energy affordable.