A top energy executive said Bangladesh must deepen regional cooperation to meet its future power needs, arguing that the country lacks the land and resources to rely on domestic renewable energy.
Monirul Islam Akhand, managing director of Summit Power Limited, said Nepal and Bhutan have a combined surplus hydropower potential of more than 70,000 megawatts, while India’s deserts could supply large-scale solar electricity.
He questioned why South Asian neighbors spend “billions of dollars on border protection” instead of building shared transmission links. Akhand said Bangladesh could not meet rising demand without importing renewable power, adding that the country should “increase connectivity” and adopt long-term policies that integrate regional energy flows.
“Why can’t we grow together?” he asked.