BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE COUNTRY'S RELATIONSHIP WITH SDG 7 

Bangladesh has made remarkable progress towards SDG 7 in terms of electricity access. The proportion of the population with access to electricity increased from only 32% in 2000 to 99.5% in 2023. However, access to clean cooking remains a major challenge, with only 28.4% of the population primarily relying on clean fuels and technologies in 2023 (United Nations Statistics Division, n.d.). 

The country’s next challenge is therefore moving from basic electrification towards a reliable, affordable and cleaner energy system. Natural gas and other fossil fuels continue to play an important role in electricity generation, while modern renewable electricity remains limited despite Bangladesh’s significant experience with decentralised solar systems (International Energy Agency [IEA], n.d.; World Bank, 2026). 

CURRENT CHALLENGES AND RECENT DEVELOPMENTS

Bangladesh faces rapidly growing electricity demand associated with industrialisation, economic growth and urbanisation. At the same time, limited available land creates difficulties for large renewable projects, making rooftop solar and other decentralised technologies particularly important. Energy security and affordability are also major concerns as the country seeks to reduce dependence on fossil fuels while maintaining reliable electricity for its population and industries (Sustainable and Renewable Energy Development Authority [SREDA], 2026). 

The Renewable Energy Policy 2025 represents an important recent development, establishing targets for renewables to supply 20% of electricity demand by 2030 and 30% by 2040. The policy promotes solar, wind, green hydrogen, waste-to-energy and battery storage while providing incentives for private investment. Bangladesh therefore illustrates the challenge of transforming successful electrification into a more sustainable and diversified energy system (IEA, 2026; SREDA, 2026). 

LIST OF REFERENCES 

International Energy Agency. (2025). Renewable Energy Policy 2025 - Bangladesh. Retrieved September 7, 2026, from https://www.iea.org/policies/31620-renewable-energy-policy-2025

Sustainable and Renewable Energy Development Authority. (2026, January 1). Institutional and policy framework. Ministry of Power, Energy & Mineral Resources of Bangladesh. Retrieved September 7, 2026, from https://sreda.gov.bd/pages/static-pages/6922e057933eb65569e26990

United Nations Statistics Division. (n.d.). SDG Country Profile: Bangladesh. United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs. Retrieved September 7, 2026, from https://unstats.un.org/sdgs/dataportal/countryprofiles/bgd

World Bank. (2026, July 22). Powering Bangladesh’s Future with Renewable Energy. Retrieved September 7, 2026, from https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2026/07/22/powering-bangladesh-s-future-with-renewable-energy