Rayhan Ahmed, Mymensingh: Renewable energy should receive greater priority in the national budget to help Bangladesh reduce its dependence on imported fossil fuels and strengthen energy security amid ongoing volatility in global energy markets, speakers said at a pre-budget media dialogue in Mymensingh.The dialogue, titled "Global Energy Crisis and Renewable Energy: A Pre-Budget Media Dialogue," was held at the Green Point Training Centre in Mymensingh city. The event was organised by the Forum on Ecology and Development (FED), Mymensingh, and the Onnochitra Foundation, Mymensingh.Speakers observed that rising international prices of oil, liquefied natural gas (LNG), and coal have significantly increased electricity generation costs in Bangladesh. They noted that the country's heavy reliance on imported fossil fuels is putting pressure on foreign exchange reserves while increasing the burden of subsidies and capacity payments on the national economy.Addressing the dialogue, Rebecca Sultana, Executive Director of the Onnochitra Foundation, said that ensuring energy security requires not only expanding electricity generation but also accelerating the transition to sustainable and environmentally friendly energy sources.“Investment in renewable energy is not merely an environmental necessity; it is also a strategic economic investment for the country's future,” she said.Mustafa Md Khairul Alam Tuhin, General Secretary of the Forum on Ecology and Development (FED), said Bangladesh's dependence on imported fossil fuels poses long-term economic risks.“Priority should be given to renewable energy in the national budget through tax and duty exemptions, concessional financing, and effective policy support,” he said.During the dialogue, participants called for increased budgetary allocations for renewable energy in the 2026–27 fiscal year, the withdrawal of taxes and duties on solar panels, batteries, inverters, and related equipment, the expansion of green financing facilities, and wider implementation of net metering systems.Journalists, environmental activists, students, renewable energy entrepreneurs, and representatives of civil society attended the programme.