C T Online Desk: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had a meeting with Rafael Mariano, Grossi, Director General, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on the sidelines of the 78th session of the UN General Assembly in New York.
The premier congratulated the IAEA Director General on his election for the second term and assured him of Bangladesh’s constructive support as an elected member of the IAEA Board of Governors for 2023-25.
The Prime Minister reiterated Bangladesh’s abiding commitment to nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation. She recalled that Bangladesh ratified the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty during her first tenure in office. She thanked IAEA for its technical support for the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission and its nuclear research reactor facility in Savar.
The Director General, IAEA reaffirmed the Agency’s sustained support to Bangladesh and other developing countries on human-centric development issues leveraging nuclear science and applications.
He expressed particular interest in working together with Bangladesh under the ‘Atom for Food’ initiative.
The Prime Minister flagged the cutting-edge work done by the Bangladesh Institute of Nuclear Agriculture (BINA) in developing stress-tolerant, high-yielding crop varieties.
The Director General, IAEA congratulated the Prime Minister on Bangladesh’s joining a select group of countries on setting up a Nuclear Power Plant.
He said that this facility has added an altogether different dimension to Bangladesh’s engagement with IAEA, especially since it would continue to serve succeeding generations.
He assured of IAEA’s continued support for training and capacity building on nuclear safety and safeguard issues.
He responded positively to PM’s invitation to visit Bangladesh for the commissioning of the first unit of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant in 2024.
The Director General, IAEA recalled the comprehensive development vision of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and said that IAEA would like to contribute to realizing such vision through its support for clean energy, food security, advanced health treatments and water management, among other sectors.
