Govt approves nuclear mishap response plan draft

The government has approved a draft guideline on emergency responses to nuclear or radioactive disasters in Bangladesh, considering progress on the Rooppur nuclear power plant project.

The draft National Nuclear and Radioactive Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan was approved at the weekly cabinet meeting at the Secretariat on Monday, with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.

Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam briefed reporters after the meeting.

“We drafted the guideline in line with the suggestion of the International Atomic Energy Commission. It will help ensure safety with the Rooppur nuclear plant,” the cabinet secretary said.

In response to a question, the cabinet secretary said eight nuclear plant disasters had occurred in the world so far, including four in the US and the rest in Russia, Britain and Japan.

“We have to gather experience from these mishaps and our armed forces and other manpower will be trained to tackle these types of mishaps,” he added.