PM’s Secretariat office runs entirely on solar power: Shama Obaed

The building in Bangladesh Secretariat where the prime minister carries out official duties is now operating entirely on solar power, Foreign Affairs State Minister Shama Obaed said on Saturday (September 5).

She said the government was also working to expand the use of renewable energy across government offices and exploring electricity generation from waste.

Speaking at an event organised by the Centre for NRB at the Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel in Dhaka, Shama said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman was placing strong emphasis on solar power and that efforts were underway to maximise its use in government facilities.

The government is also discussing waste-to-energy projects with countries including China and Japan, she said.

On energy security, Shama said excessive dependence on a single source could put significant pressure on the economy, as recent wars had demonstrated. The government was therefore seeking to diversify energy sources, including exploring potential supplies from African countries and expanding the use of liquefied natural gas.

She said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman would attend the UN General Assembly for the first time since the establishment of a democratic government, providing an opportunity to highlight Bangladesh’s national interests, economic potential and development priorities under the “Bangladesh First” policy.

Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman is also scheduled to preside over the UN General Assembly session, she said.

Shama said economic diplomacy was the government’s top foreign-policy priority. Rebuilding the economy into a stronger position would take time, she said, adding that the government was working to improve transparency in the banking sector and create a more investment-friendly environment for foreign and expatriate Bangladeshi investors.

She also described irregular migration as a major challenge to Bangladesh’s image abroad, particularly the deaths of Bangladeshis attempting to reach Europe through the Mediterranean with the help of traffickers. The foreign and expatriates’ welfare ministries were working together to promote safer and legal migration and send more skilled workers overseas, she said.

The government was also seeking to make Bangladesh more attractive to investors by reforming airport and visa services. Policy changes aimed at simplifying visas for businesspeople, tourists and workers had already received cabinet approval, she said.