The Alumni Association, BRACU EEE hosted an in-depth industry panel discussion titled “Towards a Green Future: Career Pathways in Renewable Energy” at BRAC University, bringing together prominent leaders from engineering, finance, banking, and manufacturing sectors to provide a comprehensive outlook on Bangladesh’s evolving renewable energy landscape. The event aimed to bridge the gap between academia and industry by equipping students and young professionals with practical knowledge, career direction, and insights into future opportunities within the clean energy sector.
The session was moderated by Md. Ahamed Imtiaz, Managing Director of Viola Construction & Engineering Ltd., who set the tone of the discussion by emphasizing the growing importance of industry-academia collaboration and the need for students to develop practical competencies alongside academic knowledge. He highlighted that the renewable energy sector is not only expanding rapidly but also demanding a new generation of engineers who are adaptable, skilled, and industry-ready.
Among the panelists, Commodore M Sharif Uddin Bhuiyan, Chairman of Eleanor Solar Solutions Ltd. (Retd.), provided a detailed overview of Bangladesh’s renewable energy trajectory. He noted that the country is steadily advancing toward clean energy adoption, particularly through industrial and commercial rooftop solar installations. He emphasized that solar energy is increasingly becoming both an economic and strategic solution for organizations. Looking ahead, he identified strong growth potential in utility-scale solar projects, hybrid systems, and battery storage technologies. Addressing students, he stressed the importance of gaining hands-on skills such as solar system design, AutoCAD, system sizing, and project execution, noting that practical expertise will be a key differentiator in the job market.
Riyadh-Bin-Shahid, Assistant Vice President (Technical) at Infrastructure Development Company Limited (IDCOL), focused on the crucial role of financing in driving renewable energy expansion. He explained that while technological solutions are readily available, structured and accessible financing remains essential for project implementation. He highlighted IDCOL’s contributions in supporting solar home systems, rooftop solar, mini-grids, and other sustainable infrastructure projects across Bangladesh. He further pointed out that the sector is creating new career opportunities in areas such as project evaluation, technical due diligence, monitoring, and development finance, encouraging students to build both engineering and financial skillsets.
From the banking perspective, Md. Sharifuzzaman, Head of Project Inspection & Assessment Department at City Bank PLC, discussed how financial institutions have significantly shifted their approach toward renewable energy investments. He noted that renewable energy, once considered a niche sector, is now recognized as a strategic investment area offering stable long-term returns. He highlighted the increasing importance of ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) priorities and green financing initiatives within the banking sector. He emphasized that professionals who can integrate technical knowledge with financial understanding will be highly valued in the evolving job market.
A B M Faqrul Alam, Head of Sustainability Department at Urmi Group, shed light on the growing influence of sustainability in manufacturing industries. He explained that global buyers are increasingly demanding environmentally responsible production practices, pushing companies to adopt renewable energy solutions, energy-efficient technologies, and compliance-driven systems. He emphasized that sustainability is no longer optional but a core business requirement, and as a result, engineers with expertise in sustainability, energy management, and environmental compliance are in high demand.
Providing practical industry insights, Syed Arif Mahmud, Advisor at Chittagong Power Company Ltd., BSRM Group, shared the organization’s experience with rooftop solar implementation. He highlighted that adopting solar energy has enabled industries to reduce operational costs, enhance energy security, and strengthen their sustainability commitments while improving their global competitiveness. He also pointed to future opportunities in Energy Storage Systems (ESS), smart energy management, automation, and power quality solutions, noting that these areas will open up diverse career pathways for engineering graduates.
Throughout the discussion, panelists consistently emphasized that the future of renewable energy will require engineers to possess interdisciplinary skills, combining technical expertise with financial understanding, problem-solving abilities, and strong communication skills. They identified emerging sectors such as solar EPC, battery storage, smart grids, ESG consulting, and industrial energy efficiency as key areas of growth over the next decade.
The session concluded with Q&A session and a strong message for students to take initiative, build practical experience, as well as remain adaptable in a rapidly changing industry. The event ended with an interactive networking session, reinforcing the commitment of Alumni Association, BRACU EEE to fostering meaningful collaboration between academia and industry and preparing graduates to lead the transition toward a sustainable and energy-efficient future.
