Former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s dream Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant inaugurated

POBNEWS24, Dhaka April 28, 2026 : A new chapter in the country’s energy sector has begun with the inauguration of uranium fuel loading activities at the first unit of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant in Pabna, Bangladesh. With this milestone, Bangladesh became the 33rd country in the world to start using nuclear energy technology. Reaching this stage after a long wait is being seen as an important milestone in the country’s science and technology advancement.
Science and Technology Minister Fakir Mahbub Anam inaugurated the fuel loading activities in Rooppur on Tuesday (April 28). Top national and international personalities including Advisor to the Ministry of Science and Technology Rehan Asif Asad, Director General of Rosatom Alexey Likhachev and Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Mariano Grossi were present at the event.
Science and Technology Minister Fakir Mahbub Anam said, “Today we are witnessing a historic moment.” Bangladesh has entered a new era of development with the fuel loading activities of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant. This is not just a power project, it is a symbol of our self-reliance, technological capability and sustainable development for future generations.
He said, this power plant is technologically advanced. Safety is our top priority. Safety has been strictly ensured at every stage as per the standards of the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission and the International Atomic Energy Agency. This project has multi-dimensional security measures, which are capable of dealing with any kind of risk. He thanked Vladimir Putin and the Russian state-owned company Rosatom for their cooperation in implementing this project.
Rehan Asif Asad, Advisor to the Prime Minister on Posts and Telecommunications, said, the Rooppur project is not just a power plant, but a real example of international cooperation, which has taken Bangladesh’s technological capability to new heights.
In his words, this project is laying a solid foundation for the country on the path to building a knowledge-based and technology-based economy.
He said that the project has been implemented with a combination of bilateral cooperation, financing and technical assistance with Russia. At the same time, the technical assistance of the International Atomic Energy Agency and the adherence to international standards have made the project a strong position in terms of safety and acceptability.
The supervision of the Ministry of Science and Technology, the technical leadership of the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission and the strict regulatory role of the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority in the implementation of the project were particularly highlighted. He also mentioned the development of a strong safety culture by maintaining international standards in terms of safety, security and protection.
At the event, Rosatom Director General Alexey Likhachev said that through the implementation of this project, Bangladesh is gaining a recognized position in the use of peaceful nuclear technology. He said that despite the pandemic, global instability and various internal challenges, the construction work has not stopped for a day and the project is now moving towards completion.
He said that the installation of pipelines and pumping equipment is currently underway in the second unit and the aim is to start experimental operations there next year. He also mentioned that the coordinated work of the regulatory agencies of Russia and Bangladesh in implementing the project has helped ensure international safety standards.
Regarding human resource development, Likhachev said that in the past few years, more than 900 Bangladeshi students have received higher nuclear education in various Russian universities as per Rosatom’s quota. Many of them have already joined the project. He also highlighted the plan to train more than 1,100 specialists who will ensure the operation and safety of the power plant.
Anwar Hossain, Secretary of the Ministry of Science and Technology, said that the project, which started in 2017, is now taking full shape. Work has progressed rapidly with the installation of several important equipment within a year. He said that equal importance has been given to not only building infrastructure, but also developing a skilled workforce.
Speakers at the event said that the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant will add a significant amount of electricity to the national grid, which will play an important role in industrialization, economic growth and strengthening the country’s energy security. At the same time, it is being considered as a long-term source of environmentally friendly electricity generation, with a potential lifespan of about a century.
With the fuel loading activities, the Rooppur project has now moved towards the final preparations for power generation, which is being considered as the beginning of a new chapter in the energy history of Bangladesh.
The entire project area including Rooppur is in a festive mood surrounding this historic moment. The project was started in 2017 during the time of Sheikh Hasina.