Cabinet nods protocol to operate Ruppoor Nuke Power Plant with Russia’s assistance

The cabinet today approved in principle the draft of a protocol to be signed for getting assistance from Russia over the operation and maintenance of the Ruppoor Nuclear Power Plant following its construction in regular cabinet meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair at her office here.

"The cabinet gave consent in principle to the protocol for bringing amendments to the agreement between the Government of the Russian Federation and the Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh on cooperation concerning the construction of Nuclear Power Plant on the territory of Bangladesh," Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam told a news briefing at the Secretariat after the meeting.

He informed that the agreement between the countries for setting up the first nuke power plant in Bangladesh was signed on November 2, 2011.

Replying to a query on justification of signing the protocol, Anwarul added that it was essential to receive assistance from Russia for properly running and maintaining the Ruppoor Nuclear Power Plant after starting its operation as Bangladesh has no experience in running such plant.

The government's top bureaucrat simultaneously said that the garbage to be produced from the nuke power plant will be disposed by Russia outside Bangladesh following the environmental rules and regulations.

He also said that the Nuclear Power Company Bangladesh Limited will run the Ruppoor Nuclear Power Plant after completion of its construction work with the assistance of Russia in accordance to the agreement signed in 2011.

Anwarul added that the cabinet also approved the draft of 2nd Addendum to the Protocol on Inland Water, Transit and Trade between the Government of Bangladesh and the government of India aimed at increasing trade between the countries utilizing the waterways.

According to the draft of the 2nd addendum, Badarpur, Sonamura, Kolaghat, Maia, Jogighopa in India and Ghorashal, Daudkandi, Sultanganj, Aricha and Bahadurabad in Bangladesh will be added as routes in the PIWT&T signed in June 2015.

"If the 2nd addendum is signed, it will increase the waterway trade between Bangladesh and India as the waterway trade will be easy and dynamic," said the Cabinet Secretary.

Besides, Rajshahi, Sultanganj, Chilmari, Daudkandi and Bahadurabad alongside the existing Narayanganj, Khulna, Mongla, Sirajganj, Ashuganj and Pangaon in Bangladesh part have been announced as 'Port of Call' in the proposed 2nd addendum.

In Indian part, Dhulian, Maia, , Kolaghat, Sonamura and Jogighopa like the existing Kolkata, Haldia, Karimganj, Pandu, Silghat, Dhubri have been declared as 'Port of Call' in the draft of 2nd addendum.

The cabinet today also approved in principle the draft of "Bangladesh National Museum Act, 2020," to specify further the formation and functions of Board of Trustees of the Bangladesh National Museum.