Bangladesh and United States Sign New Pact on Peaceful Nuclear Energy Use

Bangladesh and the United States formalized an agreement on the peaceful use of nuclear energy, with Rehan Asad, adviser to the Prime Minister on Science and Technology, signing for Bangladesh and Jacob Helberg, a U.S. secretary, signing for the United States. The deal continues a cooperation initiative first launched in 1981 under President Ziaur Rahman and aims to expand civilian nuclear collaboration. Meanwhile, the scheduled arrival of uranium fuel for Unit 2 of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant was delayed after a Rosatom liaison officer reported that the airspace was not cleared, and officials could not identify which country blocked it.

The Rooppur plant, located in Rooppur village along the Padma River in Pabna District, is being built with support from Russia’s Rosatom and will house two VVER-1200 reactors generating 2,400 MW. Earlier, low-enriched uranium for Unit 1 arrived safely from Russia and was transported via a secured 300-kilometre corridor to the site.