The government has approved a draft guideline on emergency responses to face any nuclear or radioactive disaster.
The cabinet approved the National Nuclear and Radioactive Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan at its virtual meeting on Monday with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair, reports bdnews24.com.
The guideline was authorised to put safety measures in place for the Rooppur nuclear power plant, Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam said during a press briefing at the Secretariat.
“The International Atomic Energy Commission stipulates the availability of safety guidelines and response plans for such power plants, or else they will not allow us to run it. We have drafted it following the guideline structure from IAEA,” he said.
“The Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief plays the key role in all sorts of disaster management in the country. The National Nuclear and Radioactive Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan was formulated in keeping with Bangladesh’s disaster management and such other plans.”
The cabinet secretary pointed out that authorities actually have little idea about dealing with nuclear power mishaps and emergency responses and the guideline would provide a way forward if such situations occur.
Talking about implementation of the guidelines, Islam said: “So far eight disasters have occurred in the world. Four disasters took place in the US, one in Russia and another in Britain, while one took place during a tsunami in Japan.”
“They have recounted experiences from these and guided on how to face such situations with national and local infrastructures.”
The cabinet secretary said the Bangladesh has armed forces and sufficient manpower, which need to be trained, to face such situation.
“The guideline will be focused primarily on handling nuclear and radioactive disasters in Bangladesh.”
