Dhaka, May 17 -- Prime Minister's Adviser on Telecom and ICT Rehan Asif Asad on Sunday stressed the need for a balanced long-term energy strategy for Bangladesh, warning that expanding renewable energy must not come at the cost of agricultural land.

"Renewable energy (RE) is crucial for Bangladesh's future. Our agriculture is also important. We cannot expand renewable energy by sacrificing arable land," the adviser said at a seminar titled "Renewable Energy in the Upcoming Budget: Expectations and Realities," organised by the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) at a city hotel.

Asad, who holds degrees in electrical and nuclear engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), said energy is one of the key drivers of nationa...