Rural Bangladesh and urban poor bear brunt of ‘unfair’ energy distribution: IPD

While villages get less energy than cities, energy distribution in urban centres is far from fair, the organisation says

The Institute for Planning and Development (IPD) has raised concerns over significant "deficits" and regional "bias" in Bangladesh’s energy distribution, warning that failing to ensure energy equity could lead to an unmanageable “national crisis”.

At a dialogue on energy crisis and urbanisation, held at the Bishwo Shahitto Kendro on Friday, planners and experts argued that current distribution policies favour affluent urban pockets while leaving rural areas and the urban poor in the dark.

While rural regions consistently face more power cuts than cities, the organisation noted that even within urban centres, energy distribution is far from fair.

The IPD said there is a clear disparity in electricity access between villages and cities, while internal discrimination also exists within the city itself.

Marginalised and low-income residents in urban areas are bearing the brunt of the crisis, while wealthier zones remain prioritised, the organisation of planners noted.

IPD Executive Director Adil Mohammed Khan described this as "centralised development", likening the energy bias to the imbalances found in the national development budget.

He noted that Dhaka's disproportionately high energy demand compared with the rest of the country creates a massive regional divide.

Speakers urged the government to move toward a "polycentric" urbanisation model to reduce the singular pressure on Dhaka.

The planners recommended creating region-specific data to ensure informed and equitable electricity distribution.

Implementing green building codes can reduce energy use by 40–50 percent, while promoting medium-rise, high-density development over unnecessary high-rises helps lower overall energy footprints, the speakers at the programme said.

The IPD also recommended withdrawing all taxes on solar power technology to accelerate renewable energy adoption.

Bangladesh Institute of Planners (BIP) President Muhammad Ariful Islam warned that the energy deficit in rural areas is driving more people toward the capital, further hindering decentralisation efforts.

He emphasised that the full implementation of the recently approved Spatial Planning Act is essential to managing national energy demand.

The dialogue also touched upon the transport sector, with experts suggesting that prioritising bus services, railways, and waterways over private cars -- alongside building cycle lanes and shaded walkways -- would significantly alleviate fuel pressure.