Online Desk:  Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud has reiterated Bangladesh’s commitment to non-proliferation and peaceful use of nuclear science, particularly in energy, food safety and medicine, and health sectors.

He shared this commitment during his meeting with Rafael Mariano Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), in Vienna on Monday evening (Vienna time).

Foreign Minister Hasan also reiterated Bangladesh’s commitment to nuclear disarmament and to the safety and security of nuclear materials.

He recalled that Bangladesh became a member of the IAEA in 1972 which was one of the earliest memberships of Bangladesh in any international organisation.

The Foreign Minister thanked IAEA for providing necessary support and cooperation for the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant Project.

He assured the Director General that Bangladesh will maintain the highest level of transparency, safety, and security of its nuclear power plants. Referring to the national energy vision, he mentioned that Bangladesh has contemplated a fair share of nuclear energy in her future energy mix since it is a green and clean source of energy.

Mentioning the unmatched success of Bangladesh in becoming self-sufficient in staple food production as well as successes in pharmaceuticals and health services sectors, Hasan thanked IAEA for its technical support to Bangladesh in nuclear agriculture, nuclear medicine and radiotherapy fields.

The Foreign Minister appreciated the Director General’s initiatives like Atoms4Food and Atoms4NetZero, and assured him continued support from Bangladesh for these noble initiatives.

The Director General reaffirmed the agency’s sustained support to Bangladesh 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 Director General of IAEA congratulated Bangladesh for setting up nuclear power plants, which has added an altogether different dimension to Bangladesh’s engagement with IAEA.

He assured of IAEA’s continued support for training and capacity building on nuclear safety and safeguard issues.

The Foreign Minister invited the Director General to visit Bangladesh during the commissioning of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant Project.