The pursuit of nuclear technology for peaceful development is one of the most ambitious, scientific, and economically significant undertakings in Bangladesh’s history.

Central to this pursuit is the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission (BAEC), the government body responsible for guiding research, development, and implementation of nuclear science, technology, and infrastructure.

As Bangladesh seeks to balance rising energy demand, its nuclear goals remain both promising and complex.

This article analyses where Bangladesh stands now as far as its own capabilities are concerned and what possibilities lie ahead for Bangladesh, given the complex geopolitical dictates surrounding nuclear energy.

To get to the depth of such an issue, I sat down with Dr Md Shafiqul Islam, former Director (2011), Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission, currently serving as Professor in Nuclear Engineering at the University of Dhaka, who is also considered the pioneer of nuclear engineering and power plants in Bangladesh.

Vision of BAEC

The decision to build nuclear power plants was made by the highest administrative brass of the government because it not only concerns energy but is also a political decision.

Bangladesh, in its stated goal of pursuing nuclear resources, has only focused on constructing the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant. However, Dr Md Shafiqul Islam believes that for long-term sustained development in our nuclear sector, only focusing on building and maintaining a power plant cannot be acceptable.

“All the focus is on Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant. But the main focus should be on BAEC, and as a regulatory body, it was never understood by the government. Ensuring licences, IEA clarity, and support for all other performing bodies are absent. As such, the commission fails to work and achieve anything in this sector. Hence, the vision we had for BAEC was never fulfilled.”

Developing nuclear capabilities is not just about managing a power plant. Dr Md Shafiqul Islam shared that there were many other commitments, such as training manpower, strengthening BAEC’s capabilities, and setting up a proper systematic structure for creating research opportunities, all of which, according to our interviewee, are missing, and the situation seems to worsen day by day.

On the question of managing our own nuclear technology, Dr Md Shafiqul Islam gave a pessimistic response.

“The university bodies and other emerging platforms that work and study atomic energies have no communication with the government. The act of working in a collaborative culture, which we see in other countries, is entirely absent in ours. The government needed to implement such practices, but they are not doing so.”

The government had intended to act as a collaborative body only through administrative paperwork and left BAEC to fend for itself, according to Dr Md Shafiqul Islam.

Without collaboration with other institutions and organisations, over time BAEC has fallen into a corner of irrelevance and is running eccentrically.

As such, Bangladesh depends on other countries and is prone to sanctions and restrictions for such an atomic energy-related establishment.

“The nation is not getting the proper results, nor is any result visible for the next 80 years,” shared Dr Md Shafiqul Islam.

Stating the examples of other countries, he said, “The missiles of Iran and Russia are not made overnight. The government there had a long-term plan, a collaborative culture of their own, and proper execution, for which they are getting results now.”

Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant

One of the most versatile infrastructures in Bangladesh is the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant. Being under construction for years now, it has missed multiple operational deadlines.

There are many reasons behind this, including government support, lack of proper planning, shortage of facilities, communication gaps, and so on. As per Shafiq sir, the power plant is not just an infrastructure but plays a vital role in the geographical arena.

“Building manpower is a big challenge in Bangladesh. The functioning of this power plant can smooth the journey, and Bangladesh has a lot to gain from it.”

A culture of safety and strict adherence to protocol is something Bangladesh needs to adopt if it intends to run the plant and establish a reputable image in the world.

“It is very difficult to recover if the safety of the power plant is breached. So, this has to be done in a very sophisticated and precise manner, ensuring the highest importance.”

Compared to oil, coal, and gas, it is very cost-effective, environmentally friendly, and functions 24/7, making it easier.

Therefore, in his opinion, Bangladesh needs to invest more in nuclear energy, but who listens?

It is with great sorrow that Dr Md Shafiqul Islam shared that Bangladesh has created no job facilities for students who studied in the field of atomic energy or intend to enter this field.

“The most alarming thing is that, where there is a need for only one Physics graduate, the government takes ten, whereas not a single person graduated in Nuclear Engineering, which is the mother subject.”

Here, the code of the gazette of nuclear energy and IEA is also not being fulfilled. BAEC did not create any job vacancies for nuclear engineers. Finding no other way, students opt to go abroad.

“If the outside world recognises that we staffed our plants and BAEC with just Physics graduates and left behind nuclear engineers, who are the mother subject, they may lose confidence,” an enraged response from Dr Md Shafiqul Islam.

Upon being asked what BAEC currently facilitates, Dr Md Shafiqul Islam stated that BAEC has no “backbone” for such activities. There is no initiative, no plan, nor any sort of internship programme.

“Without money, no research can be carried out. It’s disappointing. To some extent, it feels like a show only.”

The Department of Nuclear Engineering, University of Dhaka, has already signed comprehensive MOUs with BAEC, but sadly, nothing materialised from that piece of paper. So, the facilities that everyone expects BAEC to provide are never met.

There is also a shortage of tools, laboratories, and modern facilities. A few have been set up at DU in the past couple of years, but the existing ones are likely to deteriorate very soon due to a lack of proper maintenance. Therefore, concentration on proper skills needs to be emphasised as early as possible if we want to keep pace with the world.

Lack of Policy

Over the decades, there have been misconceptions about atomic energy, missiles, the Rooppur Power Plant, and so on.

“Citizens believe that we have everything, but we don’t make any missiles or air defence systems utilising atomic energy. The main problem lies in the planning and initiative of the framework by the concerned bodies, which is a matter of both fact and sorrow. In reality, we don’t have any facilities, nor do we have any structured system,” shared Dr Md Shafiqul Islam.

“If today the Rooppur power plant faces any sort of troublesome situation or any accident occurs, who will tackle that? BAEC can’t do anything alone. It’s a research centre that provides ideas on nuclear engineering, atomic energy, and associated fields. It needs support from the government to produce results.”

Every country possesses a policy on the disposal of waste, fuel, and coal. Bangladesh still has none.

“Where is our policy? The answer is always negative. So, expecting anything at this point is merely a delusion.”

With the bitter and disappointing conversation behind us, Sir provided his parting advice:

“Every young star should possess the dream of achieving excellence in their respective fields, as well as take the initiative to advance that field into the near future,” he concluded.