Foreign Minister Dr. Hasan Mahmud, MP reiterated Bangladesh’s commitment to non-proliferation and peaceful use of nuclear science, particularly in energy, food safety and medicine & health sectors during his meeting with Mr. Rafael Mariano Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna today.
Foreign Minister Mahmud also reiterated Bangladesh’s abiding commitment to nuclear disarmament and to the safety and security of nuclear materials. He recalled that Bangladesh became the member of the IAEA in 1972 which was one of the earliest memberships of Bangladesh in any international organization.
The Minister thanked IAEA for providing necessary support and cooperation for the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant Project. He ensured the Director General that Bangladesh will maintain highest level of transparency, safety, and security of its nuclear power plants. Referring to the national energy vision, he mentioned that Bangladesh has contemplated a fare share of nuclear energy in her future energy mix since it is green and clean source of energy.
Mentioning the unmatched success of Bangladesh in becoming self-sufficient in staple food production as well as successes in pharmaceuticals and health services sectors, Dr. Mahmud thanked IAEA for its technical support to Bangladesh in nuclear agriculture, nuclear medicine and radio therapy fields.
The Foreign Minister appreciated Director General’s initiatives like Atoms4Food and Atoms4NetZero and assured him continued support from Bangladesh for these noble initiatives.
The Director General reaffirmed the Agency’s sustained support to Bangladesh on human-centric development issues leveraging nuclear science and applications. He expressed particular interest in working together with Bangladesh under the ‘Atom for Food’ initiative.
Director General of IAEA congratulated Bangladesh for setting up nuclear power plants, which has added an altogether different dimension to Bangladesh’s engagement with IAEA. He assured of IAEA’s continued support for training and capacity building on nuclear safety and safeguard issues. Foreign Minister invited the Director General to visit Bangladesh during the commissioning of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant Project.