Chief adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed urged people to conserve energy and avoid wasting gas and electricity in order to reduce the gap between supply and demand. Speaking at a workshop and exhibition on "Energy Conservation and Renewable Energy Programmes" at Dhaka Sheraton Hotel, Fakhruddin emphasized the importance of using energy-efficient lighting, implementing energy-saving technology in industries, and utilizing renewable energy sources like solar and wind power. He noted that the promotion of energy conservation and renewable energy technology has become a worldwide trend due to rising petroleum prices. Fakhruddin also highlighted the growing awareness of climate change and the depletion of natural resources globally, stating that Bangladesh is no exception to this trend. The CA mentioned that the government was in the process of creating a draft for the Energy Conservation Act, which would include regulations in the building code to promote the efficient use and preservation of energy in buildings. The provisions would cover various aspects such as shading buildings from sunlight, using energy-efficient air-conditioners and coolers, insulation materials, lights, and appliances. The government had also been offering financial and technical support for the advancement of solar home systems through implementing agencies, and had decreased import duty on solar panels from 5 percent to 3 percent. The government's current focus was on exploring other uses of solar energy, like water heating, irrigation pumping, and street lighting. The CA announced that the government was eager to support private investments in the economy and was actively promoting public-private partnerships in the energy sector. Additionally, they were considering implementing policies to allow private sector installation of merchant power plants, which would enable small power plants, captive power plants, and merchant power plants to sell power to their chosen customers. The Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission would be responsible for overseeing this initiative. Fakhruddin expressed optimism that the workshop would generate creative ideas for promoting energy conservation and the use of renewable energy in the nation.