DHAKA — Science and Technology Minister Faqir Mahbub Anam has sought support from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to expedite the supply of electricity from Bangladesh’s Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant to the national grid.
He made the request during a bilateral meeting between a Bangladesh delegation and IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi at the agency’s headquarters in Vienna, Austria, on Thursday, according to an official handout.
The Bangladesh delegation was led by Mahbub Anam. The meeting focused on expanding the peaceful applications of nuclear technology, strengthening nuclear safety and security, and enhancing cooperation between Bangladesh and the IAEA. The minister thanked Grossi and the IAEA for their continued support in promoting the peaceful use of nuclear technology and strengthening international cooperation.
The two sides also discussed further strengthening Bangladesh’s capacity in nuclear science and technology through technical cooperation, human resource development, education, training and research. Mahbub Anam said Bangladesh has benefited from the IAEA’s technical cooperation programme for more than five decades in areas including healthcare, agriculture, food security, water management, industry and energy.
He noted that Bangladesh recently signed its Country Programme Framework (CPF) for 2026–2032, which he said would create new opportunities for technical cooperation in the years ahead. Describing the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant as a historic milestone for Bangladesh’s energy security, the minister said the country had made significant progress toward carbon-free electricity generation through fuel loading at Unit 1 of the plant.
“This has opened up new possibilities for meeting the country’s growing electricity demand, ensuring energy security and addressing climate change,” he said. Mahbub Anam reaffirmed Bangladesh’s commitment to maintaining the highest international standards of nuclear safety, security and responsible management. He also highlighted Bangladesh’s accession to the Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management, describing it as a reflection of the country’s commitment to a safe and responsible nuclear programme.
The meeting also discussed cooperation under the IAEA’s Rays of Hope: Cancer Care for All initiative. Mahbub Anam thanked Grossi and the IAEA Secretariat for their leadership in advancing the programme. Bangladesh joined the Rays of Hope initiative in 2025 and is working with the IAEA to develop it into an effective national-level programme. The minister said one of the initiative’s priorities is establishing an integrated, one-stop cancer care centre to provide more coordinated, accessible and patient-centred treatment.
He stressed the importance of further IAEA technical cooperation in capacity building, knowledge exchange and developing a sustainable cancer treatment system in Bangladesh. Mahbub Anam also welcomed the IAEA-WHO Impact Review Mission, scheduled for November 2026, saying it would provide an opportunity for an evidence-based assessment of Bangladesh’s national cancer control capacity and help establish practical priorities for improving cancer care.
Emphasising the need to bring the benefits of science and technology closer to the people, the minister said nuclear technology should contribute not only to technological advancement but also to improving living standards, strengthening climate resilience, increasing agricultural productivity and expanding healthcare services.
He urged the IAEA to expand opportunities for international education, training, fellowships and joint research for Bangladeshi students, scientists and researchers. The minister said Bangladesh aims to build a more integrated, equitable and sustainable cancer care system and ensure that the benefits of nuclear science and technology reach people who need them most.
He also called for deeper international cooperation with the IAEA in promoting peaceful nuclear technology, strengthening nuclear safety and security, and supporting sustainable development. Science and Technology Secretary Md Anwar Hossain, Bangladesh Ambassador and Permanent Representative to Vienna Toufique Hasan, Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission Chairman Dr M Moinul Islam, and Joint Secretary of the Science and Technology Ministry Sheikh Mohammed Tauhidul Islam attended the meeting.
