Mymensingh Correspondent:
On the eve of World Environment Day 2025, an exceptional environmental awareness campaign was held in the agricultural land of Char Iswardia Union of Mymensingh district to ensure environmental conservation, food and energy security. The campaign was organized by Anyachitra Foundation, Coastal Living and Environment Coalition (CLEAN) and Bangladesh Environment and Development Coalition (BWGED) to raise public awareness about ‘Agrovoltaics’ or ‘Electric Agriculture’. Environmental activists, local farmers, youth organizers and civil society representatives were present at this exceptional program held in the agricultural land of Char. The joint potential and impact of farming and solar power generation on the same land through Agrovoltaics technology were highlighted through poster exhibitions, field-level programs, video messages and awareness campaigns on social media. In her speech as the chief guest, Rebecca Sultana, CEO of Anyachitra Foundation, said: “Bangladesh has limited land, but the demand for electricity and food is increasing. Agrovoltaics can provide a simultaneous solution to these two crises. This ensures maximum use of land, increases farmers’ income, and enables rural energy self-sufficiency.” Emon Sarkar, member of the Forum on Ecology and Development, said: “In this char region, which is prone to natural disasters on the one hand and deprived of infrastructure on the other, it is possible to maintain agricultural production by applying agrovoltaics technology in addition to generating environmentally friendly electricity. It will also play an important role in the development of renewable energy at the local level.” Jannatul Ferdous Meem, member secretary of Mymensingh District Citizens’ Platform, said: “Inclusion of agrovoltaics in state policy is very important to protect farmers’ land and pave the way for their sustainable livelihood. The government must take a leading role in the spread of this technology.” Mamun Mia, convener of Mymensingh Sadar Upazila Youth Forum, said: “If awareness of this technology can be increased through the participation of the youth, it will be easier to enter the era of environmentally friendly agriculture and energy in the future. This campaign has connected the young generation with the environmental movement.”
The organizing organizations raised three demands from the government: first, the formulation of a clear national policy on agrovoltaics, second, the implementation of experimental model projects in different regions of the country, and third, providing training and technical assistance to farmers and local entrepreneurs.
Environmentalists said that agrovoltaics could be a practical and sustainable solution for Bangladesh to combat the impacts of climate change, protect agricultural land, and increase renewable energy sources. It could open up new possibilities for farmers, especially in marginal areas like the char region. This campaign was not just a conventional event, but rather the birth of a new idea. It emerged as a realistic outline of an integrated future of environment, energy, and agriculture. The organizers said that such programs will be expanded in different districts of the country and efforts will be made to make policy progress through active discussions with the government. Also present at the campaign program were Mostafizur Rahman, Rakibul Hasan, Katha Akhter, Jit Sarkar, Mokhlesur Rahman, Ataur Rahman, Sohag, Subrata Barman, Ponni, and others.
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