Use of renewable energy in the slum dwellers should be increased to protect the environment
About 64 percent of families in Dhaka city are poor. An average family spends TK. 2389 per month on cooking and electricity. That is, 15 percent of the total income goes to fuel costs.
So, we need to curb the use of fossil fuels along with the urban poor. The interest in using renewable energy should be increased among the urban poor families of Dhaka.
Speakers talked at a national dialogue about “The energy use and challenges in adopting renewable energy” in Dhaka Metropolis.
Prof. Dr. Ahmed Kamruzzaman Majumdar, Chairman of Center for Atmospheric Pollution Studies (CAPS), chaired the event, while Nazrul Islam, Chairman of the Urban Research Center and Emeritus Professor of Dhaka University, attended as the chief guest.
Professor Mohammad Ali Naqi, Vice President of the Institute of Architects Bangladesh (IAB), and Professor Dr. Nauzia Yasmin, Pro-Vice Chancellor of State University Bangladesh, attended as special guests, along with Kiara Vidusi,
Attaché Program Manager for Energy, Investment Grants, and Blended Finance of the European Union in Bangladesh. Mr. Kamruzzaman, Program Director of BARCIK, presented the main article in the dialogue, and Mr. Sukant, Executive Director of Bersik Sen, gave a welcome speech.
Emeritus Professor Nazrul Islam said that Bangabandhu was the first to protect the rights of slum dwellers. Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha( RAJUK), Dhaka, has no plan for the urban poor. The urban policy has stated the rights of the urban poor including fuel. So it should be given importance.
Professor Dr. Ahmad Kamruzzaman Majumdar said that the use of renewable energy plays an important role in both air quality and energy development. Reducing dependence on fossil fuels and increasing the use of renewable energy can be an effective solution to address these challenges.
Professor Mohammad Ali Naqi said, when we make a plan, we plan without the slum dwellers. We will never be able to control the use of fossil fuels by excluding these urban populations.
Professor Dr. Nauzia Yasmin said, we have to be self-aware and control fossil fuels with slum dwellers in mind. How these renewable fuels will be stored should also be considered.
Bersik’s project director. Kamruzzaman said that 64 percent of Dhaka city are urban poor families. An average family spends Tk.2389 on cooking and electricity. That is, 15 percent of the total income goes to fuel costs.
The study also said that in the last two years, 8% of households had accidents, 54% of which were from wood burning stoves. And 22 percent of family members had severe coughs in the last 6 months due to cooking fumes.
Only 10 of respondents in the study are familiar with the term ‘renewable energy’. Dhaka’s urban poor households lack interest in using renewable energy.
Muhammad Hasnat Morshed Bhuiyan emphasized the importance of including everyone in the development process, with no one being left behind.
But practically we are trying to move forward leaving slum dwellers behind which is never possible. We need to think about smart technology and make it easy and familiar.
