PUBLIC OPINION ON REINVESTING FOSSIL FUEL SUBSIDIES TOWARD HYDROPOWER IN BANGLADESH

Abstract: Bangladesh is a South Asian country that has great potential for renewable energy and a growing economy. Hence, it is important to understand the obstructing forces against Bangladesh’s sustainable development. Current literature has shown that removing fossil fuel subsidies can increase welfare by 1.89 per cent and small-scale hydropower plants can generate clean and reliable electricity while also providing clean drinking water, supporting irrigation systems, and managing severe flooding. The purpose of this report is to provide public opinion on reinvesting fossil fuel subsidies towards hydropower production. It seeks to present the views of Bangladeshi citizens on renewable energy, both their support for or against hydropower production and education levels on the topic. Both are important for policymakers as it allows them to plan their next steps in the energy transition with the knowledge of their general population.  It aims to achieve this through survey data, using snowballing sampling and the pretest-posttest design. Data was analysed using cross tabulation and contingency graphs and found that (1) there was an overall good understanding of fossil fuel consumption in Bangladesh but uncertainties to its relation to flooding and natural disasters. (2) Majority of Bangladeshis think the government over-subsidises fossil fuels and are willing to switch to renewables for electricity if the government offered it. And (3) while a few participants have concerns about hydropower, the majority are willing to support the reinvestment of fossil fuel subsidies into hydropower.