A Stakeholder Workshop on Sustainability Governance of China’s Energy Investment has been held in the Intercontinental Dhaka on 18th October 2025, organized by SGAIN Bangladesh team in association with Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies. The Honorable advisor to the ministry on Environment, Forest and Climate Change Syeda Rizwana Hasan was as Chief guest and Mr. Jalal Ahmed, Chairman of the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission and Dr. Sayema Haque Bidisha, Pro-Vice Chancellor (Administration) of the University of Dhaka, attended as special guest in that event. The workshop was chaired by Dr. Badrul Hasan, who is the lead of SGAIN research in Bangladesh and associate professor, department of political science, University of Dhaka.
During the inaugural session, the chief guest Syeda Rizwana Hasan expressed her comments on the issues on energy transition and Chinese investment in Bangladesh. She said, “Sustainability governance is a loaded word which involves multiple dimensions. In terms of energy transition, China’s contribution is remarkable as their assistance to the field of energy sector now is following a positive trend. China is making their investment to wind energy as well like in Shirajganj which is also a good sign in our future renewable energy landscape.” Also, Both special guests put their valuable remarks on the importance of Chinese investment in energy sustainability. Mr. Jalal Ahmed added how sustainable policy making can shape countries energy sector along with Chinese investment and Dr. Sayema Haque Bidisha stressed on the economic factors of Chinese investment in energy sector. Other relevant stakeholders on different field shared their expertise and aligned it with Sustainability governance and Energy investment of China. They lauded China as a crucial development partner and their technical and financial capacity in the field of green energy can shape the energy transition landscape of Bangladesh. Participants in the workshop shared their views on the achievements and Challenges of China Bangladesh relationship and recommended on having more transparent and investment friendly governance for investment in renewable energy sector. The session chair Dr. Badrul Hasan said, “For a comprehensive energy transition in Bangladesh, foreign investment and technical supports are required from global partner, especially for a developing country like us. In this regard China could be a big partner for our country since they have already invested in our energy transition. This will create a window of opportunity for us in the energy transition but we need to ensure the sustainability governance (economic, social, environment and governance aspects) of these investments in the energy transition. This will help us to achieve the SDGs and targeted on the bunded by the government within 2040.
The workshop consisted three technical sessions. Session-1 held on “Five Decades of Bangladesh-China Relations: Challenges and Opportunities Ahead”, which illustrated the historical evaluation of China Bangladesh relationship and what are the major prospects for future. The session-2 focused “Bilateral Cooperation between China and Bangladesh for Net Zero and Energy Transition” that portrayed what strategic cooperation between China and Bangladesh can enhance net zero and energy transition. Lastly third session dealt with “China’s Role in Green Industrialization in Bangladesh” respectively which made some critical recommendations which can shape the governance decisions for foreign investment of China in sustainable development, especially in energy sector.
These sessions reflected some diversified thoughts and ideas from different policy makers, experts and academicians and they provided some recommendations for ensuring the sustainability governance of Chinese investment in energy transition of Bangladesh. During the open floor discussion, the participants shared that if government can ensure the stable policy regarding foreign investment that will contribute towards the sustainable energy transition in Bangladesh.
