Voicing a strong resolve that Bangladesh would never compromise on the safety issues while constructing the nuclear power plant, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wednesday urged the local nuclear engineers and related manpower to improve management efficiency and update their knowledge. “We’ll have to develop local competence in all areas including nuclear reactor management,” she said, urging all concerned to o develop their capacity to “take total responsibility of the Rooppur nuclear power plant one day.”
The Prime Minister was addressing the inaugural ceremony of a two-day International Conference on `Nuclear power: A chance of successful economic and socio-political development’ held at a city hotel.
State Minister for Science and Technology architect Yeafesh Osman presided over the function, where Science and Technology Secretary Md Rafiqul Haque and Russian Ambassador to Bangladesh Alexander A Nikolaev gave the address of welcome for their respective side.
Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission chairman Abu Sayeed Mohammad Firoz delivered the vote of thanks.
The conference is being jointly organized by the Ministry of Science and Technology of Bangladesh and the Nuclear Energy State Corporation -ROSATOM – of the Russian Federation.
Hasina said the geographical location of Bangladesh and adverse impacts of climate change on the land have been compelling the country’s people to face frequent climatic events. “We are focusing on this issue and making sure of the foolproof safety of the nuclear power plant.”
She said that during bilateral consultation, she had requested Russian President Vladimir Putin for providing Bangladesh the safest and the latest reactors and have received his assurance in this regard.
The Prime Minister mentioned that Bangladesh has signed an agreement with Russia to build the country’s first ever nuclear power plant in Rooppur of Pabna with a total production capacity of 2,000 MW in two units.
In this regard, she said that if the Rooppur nuclear power plant project becomes successful, the government has plans to set up another nuclear power plant in the southern region of the country.
She added: “Russia has vast experience, expertise and modern technology in setting up nuclear power plant.
-With The Independent input
