Political responsibility and women’s representation dominated the third session of the Just Energy Transition Conference 2026 in Dhaka, as speakers called for moving beyond dialogue to concrete political commitments for a gender-responsive energy future.
Titled “From Dialogue to Commitment: Holding Political Parties Accountable for a Gender-Responsive Energy Future,” the session was chaired by Shaheen Anam, executive director of Manusher Jonno Foundation (MJF).
She highlighted the growing importance of women voters in Bangladesh and stressed the urgent need for stronger representation, gender balance and accountability in political decision-making—particularly in the energy sector.
Shaheen Anam pointed to persistent inequalities embedded in current energy systems, noting that women often bear the costs and risks of existing approaches while remaining excluded from policy formulation.
She urged political parties to adopt gender-sensitive planning and ensure balanced participation in transition governance so that the shift to clean energy does not replicate old exclusions.
Among the discussants, Sharif Jamil, member secretary of Dhoritri Rokhhay Amra (DHORA), argued that Bangladesh has reached a point where conversations must translate into commitments. He said political parties should clearly outline renewable energy goals in their election manifestos, especially given the country’s acute climate vulnerability.
“The transition has to move from rhetoric to responsibility,” he said, adding that voters should be able to hold parties accountable on energy and climate pledges.
Fahima Nasrin Munni, assistant secretary for International Affairs of the BNP, said women continue to face constraints in participation across sectors and remain particularly invisible in the energy sector. Decision-making, she noted, is still overwhelmingly male-dominated, despite the fact that climate change has intensified the burden on women.
“The changing climate context makes women’s inclusion no longer optional—it is essential,” she said, adding that her party would look into the crises faced by women in the energy sector if it comes to power.
Navid Nowroz Shah, joint chief coordinator of the National Citizen Party (NCP), focused on women’s security and rights, stating that the party aims to strengthen women’s empowerment in the coming days. He linked energy access to broader issues of safety, dignity and social justice for women.
Bonni Bepari, vice-president of Jatiya Sangskritik Party and a Jatiya Party–nominated candidate from the Dhaka-10 constituency, highlighted biogas as a practical and locally viable renewable option. She said she would continue to raise renewable energy and gender responsiveness within party forums and policy discussions.
Other political voices also joined the discussion, including Razekuzzaman Ratan, assistant general secretary of the Central Committee of the Socialist Party of Bangladesh (SPB); Abdullah Al Kafee Ratan of the Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB); and Naim Al Islam of Jamaat-e-Islami, contributing to a broad-based debate on political accountability in the energy transition.
The session concluded with active audience participation, including questions from political representatives and civil society members. Participants asked whether women would be included in energy-sector committees, how solar equipment prices could be reduced, how financing mechanisms would be effectively utilized, and whether proposals such as a family card approach could support equitable access to energy.
Speakers noted that recognizing and measuring women’s unpaid work—often intensified by energy poverty—could help inform future transition strategies. They also emphasized that while commitments were being voiced, detailed policy frameworks, structured planning and consistent follow-through would be critical to ensuring that a gender-responsive energy transition moves from promise to practice.