Bangladesh, Oct. 19 -- Bangladesh has recently placed a request for US$2.0 billion in budgetary support from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for accelerating switch from expensive imported fossil fuels to renewables.

The funds will be used particularly to accelerate renewable energy development, including rooftop solar power, officials said Monday.

The government has stepped up efforts to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and imported energy and utilise its natural resources for renewable-energy improvements, they added.

The Economic Relations Division (ERD) under the Ministry of Finance (MoF) has recently sent a letter to the Manila-based lender following a request from the Finance Ministry, said a senior ERD official.

"After getti...