Bangladesh has entered the global nuclear club through receiving the design and construction license of Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant (RNPP) project.
The country is now a member of the 32-member Nuclear Nation.
The RNPP authorities formally received the license for its 2,400 MW nuclear power project from Bangladesh Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority (BAERA) on Saturday.
BAERA Chairman Dr Naiyyum Chowdhury formally handed over the license to the chairman of Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission (BAEC) Dr Dilip Kumar Saha for RNPP project at a function at Sonargaon Hotel in the city.
According to UNB, the BAEC is implementing the 2,400 RNPP project at a cost of $12.65 billion. Russian nuclear agency Rosatom is working as its contractor.
Addressing the function as chief guest, Science and Technology Minister Yeafesh Osman said through this license Bangladesh has become a nuclear nation.
He said that this is a confidence building project of the nation.
"From tomorrow, we will start the final phase of the project. We are pursuing the best process of safety," he said.
He seeks blessing and cooperation of the people for its smooth implementation.
He said the government has successfully reached a certain point in way to the construction of RNPP project.
"We are going through a transparent process and this is our main strength," he said.
He said it is not nearly a power generation project; rather it is a symbol of an inner power of a nation.
Science and Technology Secretary Anwar Hossain informed that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is set to inaugurate the construction work of the final phase of the RNPP project on November 30.
The final phase work includes the civil construction for setting up the nuclear reactor.
BAERA Chairman Dr Naiyyum Chowdhury presided over the function. Prime Minister's Economic Advisor Dr Mashiur Rahman, parliamentary standing committee chairman of Science and Technology Ministry Dr Ruhul Haque, PM's SDG chief coordinator Abul Kalam Azad also addressed the programme, among others.
BEARA Chairman Dr Naiyyum Chowdhury said whenever the regulatory commission finds any shortcomings in the construction work, we will ask for correction.
He said nuclear regulation is must for success of a nuclear power project. In this case, the BEARA will never compromise with safety issues in the RNPP.
Project Director of the RNPP Dr Shawkat Akbar also spoke on the occasion.
