Adviser to the Prime Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Dr Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury, BB, has sought sincere cooperation of the US government to deport Rashed Chowdhury, the fugitive convicted killer of Bangabandhu, to Bangladesh immediately to face justice. The Energy Adviser was speaking as the chief guest at a seminar on Monday organised by Bangladesh Embassy in Washington DC as part of the observance of the National Mourning Day and the 47th martyrdom anniversary of Father of Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Bangladesh Ambassador to the United States M Shahidul Islam presided over the seminar titled "Deportation of the killer of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman: A long pending issue in Bangladesh-US relations” and North Carolina Central University Professor Dr ABM Nasir presented the keynote paper at the event. Dr. Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury, a gallantry award-recipient valiant  Freedom Fighter, said that the continued stay of Bangabandhu’s killer in the US was unfortunate given the excellent bilateral relations, and opined that extradition of Rashed Chowdhury would be a game-changer in Bangladesh-US relations. Also read: Momen to countries sheltering Bangabandhu’s killers: 'It's very unfair:' The Ambassador, in his remarks, gave an overview on the Awami League government’s efforts to secure deportation of Bangabandhu's self-confessed killer Rashed Chowdhury. The main objective of the seminar was to create greater awareness among the US citizens and Bangladeshi-American diaspora of the urgent need for extradition of the heinous killer of Bangabandhu to further solidify Bangladesh-US relations, Ambassador Shahidul Islam added. Professor Dr ABM Nasir, in his keynoter paper, said killer Rashed Chowdhury has committed crimes against humanity by brutally killing three children, two pregnant females and other unarmed civilians. He demanded of the US government to immediately detain and deport Rashed Chowdhury. Deputy Chief of Mission Ferdousi Shahriar moderated the seminar, while eminent actor Syed Hasan Imam, noted choreographer and dancer Laila Hasan, renowned newscaster Sarkar Kabir Uddin, valiant Freedom Fighter Harun Chowdhury, Counsellor of the Embassy Arifa Rahman Ruma and General Secretary of Washington Metro Awami League Shafiqul Azam Azad spoke at the seminar, among others. Also read: Fugitive killers of Bangabandhu will be brought back soon: Kamal The Prime Minister's Energy Adviser earlier inaugurated a 17-day long photo exhibition on the life and works of the Father of the Nation at Bangabandhu Auditorium, said a media release on Tuesday. The Embassy chalked out elaborate programs to pay deepest homage to Bangabandhu, the greatest Bengali of all time who was brutally assassinated along with most of his family members on the fateful night of August 15 in 1975. The day’s programs began in the morning with the ceremonial hoisting of the national flag at half-mast by Ambassador Shahidul Islam. The national anthem was played at this time. Later, the Ambassador accompanied by the Embassy officers, placed a floral wreath at the bust of the Father of the Nation at the Bangabandhu Corner. Messages of the President, Prime Minister, Foreign Minister and State Minister were read out by Defence Attaché Brig Gen Md Shahedul Islam, Minister (Press) AZM Sajjad Hossain, Minister (Political-I) Dewan Ali Ashraf and Minister (Political-II) Md Rashedujjaman. Counsellor Mohammad Moniruzzaman and Counsellor and Head of Chancery Md Mahmudul Islam conducted the programs in the afternoon and morning respectively.

Prime Minister’s energy advisor Dr Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury has urged officials to work towards building a diversified energy sector. "Creative solutions have to be taken up for resolving the problems in the power and energy sector," he said, while addressing a webinar, titled 'Diversified Energy, Enriched Future', organised by the Energy and Mineral Resources Department on the occasion of the National Energy Security Day Tuesday.      The PM's energy advisor advocated the use of solar power instead of diesel in irrigation pumps. "If we could introduce solar irrigation pumps, it could save half a million metric tonnes of diesel," he said. Defending the government’s gas import policy, Dr Chowdhury said it was introduced as part of the diversified fuel-mix policy.   Read: Westerners have put us into the danger: PM’s Energy Advisor "It is not true that there was no drilling in past 5-10 years in the country. Rather, 35 wells were drilled in the past five years, which means an average of seven wells have been drilled in a year." With senior secretary Md Mahbub Hossain in the chair, the event was also addressed by State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid, chairman of the parliamentary standing on power and energy Begum Waseka Ayesha Khanom, power secretary Habibur Rahman, Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) chairman ABM Azad, and Petrobangla chairman Nazmul Ahsan.  'Energy and Power' magazine editor Mollah Amzad Hossain and Dhaka University professor Dr Anwar Hossain Bhuiyan made two separate presentations at the event.  On his part, Nasrul Hamid said that Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had shown great courage by purchasing five gas fields from a foreign company on August 9 in 1975. “We’ve been getting the benefits of the great deal to date,” he said. "We have to follow his path by showing courage in taking decisions in the energy sector." He also urged all to face the current challenges in the energy sector through unity and patience. "Post-pandemic, the Russia-Ukraine war might not be the last one. Many more dismays may come in the days to come." Begum Waseka Ayesha Khanom said that appropriate technologies and fundamental research works should get priority in resolving the problems of the power and energy sector.  Read: Energy crisis: Parts of Dhaka to experience 3-hour load shedding Sunday Habibur Rahman, on the other hand, said the government has framed electric vehicle policy to encourage use of electricity in the transport sector. "Initiatives have been taken up for setting up offshore wind power plants as renewable options." Modular nuclear power plants are also being considered for the future electricity generation, he added.  Nazmul Ahsan said that Petrobangla has initiated a move to drill 46 wells in the next few years, "which will result in increasing production of natural gas by 600 million cubic feet gas to the national grid". ABM Azad, on his part, said that BPC is implementing a single point mooring project which will annually save Tk 800 crore in petroleum transportation from deep sea to the fuel refinery in Chattogram. 

Prime Minister's energy advisor Dr Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury has urged all to follow Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to become self- confident to overcome all obstacles. He was speaking as the chief guest at a virtual discussion meeting, organized by the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, on the occasion of the birth anniversary of the Father of the Nation and the National Children's Day 2022 on Thursday. He said Bangabandhu fought all his life for the freedom of common man. Also read: Bangabandhu’s 102nd birth anniversary observed “If we can follow him properly, we will be able to do something for the country and the common people," he added. State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid in a message at the meeting said that Bangabandhu loved the children most. His dream was that the children and teenagers would develop their skills in sports as well as pursuing the modern education. Also read: Bangabandhu's birthday evokes his dream: Joy Bangabandhu's self-sacrific, patriotism and struggle must be presented to the children and adolescents for the development of their humane qualities, said the state minister. Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation Chairman ABM Azad, Petobangla Chairman Nazmul Ahsan, and Additional Secretary SM Zakir Hossain also spoke on the occasion. Earlier, , the officials of the Power Division placed a wreath at the portrait of Bangabandhu at Bidyut Bhaban on the occassion of Bangabandhu's birth anniversary and the National Children's Day.

Bangladesh may go for nuclear power use to meet its growing consumption, said Prime Minister’s Energy Advisor Dr Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury. Taking advantage of advanced technologies, Bangladesh may concentrate on nuclear power in near future to meet its energy demand as it has zero emission,” he said on Tuesday. Dr Tawfiq was addressing the first-ever stakeholders’ meeting at a city hotel on formulation of an integrated energy and power sector master plan. The Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry organised the meeting with State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid in the chair. Read: S Korean companies to be interested in Bangladesh’s nuclear energy sector: Envoy Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is providing financial and technical support for framing the integrated plan for the energy and power sector. The function was addressed, among others, by Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister Dr Ahmad Kaikaus, Japanese Ambassador ITO Naoki and Power Secretary Habibur Rahman. Dr Tawfiq urged JICA to focus on technological advancement while formulating the master plan as technologies are fast changing in the energy and power sector. He also advised the officials concerned to talk to local people to have innovative ideas in finding solutions to various problems in the sector. Read: Bangladesh, Hungary to bolster ties in nuclear energy, training Nasrul Hamid said Bangladesh would require $21 billion if it wants to meet its target of decarbonisation and promote clean and renewable energy by preparing an integrated master plan. Dr Ahmad Kaikaus said transmission of gas and power is a very important element for the integrated master plan, and there should be a suitable plan for the areas where gas and power transmission lines to be installed. Japanese Ambassador ITO Naoki said the proposed integrated master plan is instrumental for the energy and power sector and it is being prepared when Bangladesh and Japan are going to celebrate its 50 years of partnership and cooperation.

Power purchase contracts with rental and quick rental power plants could be done and extended on-call basis like that of Uber, said Prime Minister’s energy advisor Dr Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury. “Rental and quick rental plants are our national assets. We can take their service on-call basis,” he said while addressing a webinar titled: “Rental, Quick Rental Power Plant, Past, Present and Future”, organised by Forum for Energy Reporters Bangladesh (FERB), on Tuesday.       The energy advisor’s comments came amid huge criticisms against the most costly electricity that the government has been purchasing for a long time from the private sector. The plants were set up on an unsolicited basis as part of the government’s strategy to find a quick solution to the nagging power crisis that prevailed over a decade back. Despite surplus generation of more than 4,000 MW in the power system, many of the rental and quick rental plants are still in operation following the extension of their contracts with the government on a number of occasions. Defending the rental and quick rental’s continuous operation, Tawfiq Elahi said these plants sometimes become essential because of the volatility in the global fuel market.

Prime Minister's Adviser for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Dr Tawfiq-E-Elahi Chowdhury has encouraged the US companies, including ExxonMobil, to invest in oil and gas explorations in Bangladesh, particularly the offshore ones. He held a meeting with the senior officials of ExxonMobil, one of the world's largest publicly traded international oil and gas companies, Friday at the Bangladesh Embassy in Washington DC and welcomed their contributions to Bangladesh's energy sector, highlighting the crucial role of the US companies in this area. Also, the adviser focused on the need for investment in building storage facilities for renewable energy in Bangladesh. Having a balanced mix of energy sources is critical for Bangladesh and its development, he said. Read: Bangladesh seeks US investment for regional power distribution Dr Tawfiq acknowledged that the companies like ExxonMobil, which are looking for liquefied natural gas (LNG) businesses in Bangladesh, require guarantying hedges against the price volatilities. He asked ExxonMobil to expedite deep-sea exploration and to invest in upgrading transmission networks and land-based facilities. ExxonMobil expressed a keen interest in working with Bangladesh to support the country's current pace of development and ensure access to energy. Read: US investors: Bangladesh showcases its capital market potential Bangladesh Ambassador to the USA M Shahidul Islam and senior officials from Bangladesh Embassy and ExxonMobil were present at the meeting. Later, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between Summit Oil and Shipping Co. Ltd and Commonwealth LNG at the Bangladesh Embassy in Washington DC in the presence of Dr Tawfiq. The adviser welcomed the signing of the MoU as an important step towards further expanding the existing energy cooperation between Bangladesh and the US.

A renewable energy lab is going to be established in the country to promote research on green energy.