Cabinet nods protocol to operate RNPP with Russian assistance

The cabinet has approved in principle the draft of a protocol to be signed with Russia for assistance in operating and maintaining the Ruppoor Nuclear Power Plant (RNPP), following its construction.

The approval was given in regular cabinet meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair at her office on Monday, reports BSS.

“The cabinet gave consent in principle to the protocol for bringing amendments to the agreement between the Russian government and Bangladesh government on cooperation concerning the construction of the nuclear power plant on the territory of Bangladesh,” Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam said at 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 plants.

He simultaneously said the wastage to be produced from the nuke power plant will be disposed by Russia outside Bangladesh as per environmental rules and regulations.

The cabinet secretary also said the Nuclear Power Company Bangladesh Limited will run the RNPP after completion of its construction work with the assistance of Russia in accordance to the agreement signed in 2011.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina addresses a cabinet meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office in Dhaka on Monday, March 9, 2020 | PIDAnwarul added that the cabinet also approved the draft of second 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 second 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 second addendum is signed, it will increase the waterway trade between Bangladesh and India as the waterway trade will be easy and dynamic,” the cabinet secretary said.

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 second addendum.

On the 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 second addendum.

The cabinet 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.