Professor Muhammad Yunus, Chief Adviser to the interim government, has called for the creation of a South Asia Grid to share hydropower generated by Nepal and Bhutan.
The chief adviser said this at a meeting with the Social Business Group on the sidelines of the Climate Conference in the Azerbaijani capital Baku on Wednesday (November 13).
He said that most of the hydroelectric generation potential of the Himalayan countries is stunted due to the lack of a power grid connecting Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Bhutan.
Nepalese officials said the country has the potential to generate 40,000 megawatts of hydroelectric power, which could help large countries like India and Bangladesh reduce their dependence on fossil fuels.
Noting that Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Bhutan should consider building a South Asian grid, Professor Yunus said Bangladesh can easily import hydropower from Nepal as it is only 40 miles away from Bangladesh. Nepal's hydropower will also be readily available.
The chief adviser said Bangladesh has given top priority to water management to prevent floods and make the best use of water to boost the country's economic growth.
He added that water is our main environmental issue. We need to manage water in a way that supports nature, he said. The interim government has also emphasized youth development and reforming the country's education system.
Professor Yunus said the government will organize a festival for the youth in January during the annual T20 BPL cricket tournament organized by the Bangladesh Cricket Board.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino and IOC President Thomas Bach are expected to attend the festival. A tournament for women's football is also being planned.
The chief adviser added that we are trying to organize festivals in all parts of the country.
Professor Yunus also discussed the reform initiatives of the interim government and the July-August mass uprising that ended Sheikh Hasina's 15-year dictatorship. He also spoke about the main issues of COP29 and Bangladesh's current position on carbon credits.