Science and Technology Secretary Md Anowar Hossain has called for upgrading the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant's emergency preparedness and response system to international standards, emphasising inter-agency coordination, trained personnel and clear operational guidelines.
He made the remarks as the chief guest at the "Stakeholders' Preparatory Workshop for the IAEA Emergency Preparedness and Review Mission to Bangladesh", held at the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority's auditorium in Agargaon, Dhaka, on Saturday (17 October), according to the press release.
Mahmudul Hasan, chairman of the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority (BAERA), chaired the workshop.
Anowar Hossain said that alongside commissioning and operating a nuclear power plant, authorities must ensure the effectiveness of its safety, security and protection measures.
He said Rooppur incorporated modern third-generation technology, advanced safety systems, automated control systems and various interlock mechanisms. However, technological safeguards alone were insufficient.
Skilled personnel, effective institutional preparedness and coordinated initiatives were indispensable for managing emergencies, he said.
The secretary noted that although the likelihood of a nuclear emergency was extremely low, the highest level of vigilance and preparedness had to be maintained because of its potential consequences.
He called for strengthening emergency preparedness and response arrangements by considering international experience, potential risks and Bangladesh's geographical and environmental circumstances.
Referring to the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) Emergency Preparedness Review (EPREV) Mission to Bangladesh, scheduled for 8–18 November, 2026, he said it should not be viewed as an examination or a process of determining whether an institution passed or failed.
Rather, the mission should be regarded as an opportunity to assess existing preparedness, identify gaps and learn from international best practices.
He expressed hope that the completed self-assessment would provide effective guidance for preparations.
Anowar Hossain stressed the need for clear, step-by-step and easily understandable guidelines specifying when and how an emergency should be declared, how information and instructions should be communicated nationally, and how on-site and off-site response operations should be coordinated.
Written guidelines must clearly define each institution's responsibilities, communication mechanisms, decision-making procedures and actions during emergencies, he said.
The secretary said an effective, coordinated plan was essential to ensuring Rooppur's safety and enabling a prompt emergency response.
This required cooperation among BAERA, relevant technical institutions, local administrations, police, the Armed Forces, medical teams, the Department of Environment and other agencies concerned.
The plan should clearly address medical services, patient transportation, necessary isolation arrangements, allocation of responsibilities and coordinated action at different levels.
Highlighting environmental and radiation monitoring, he said conditions and radiation levels in and around the plant must be monitored regularly.
Data from existing monitoring systems should be properly preserved and analysed, with information exchanged nationally and internationally when necessary.
He also emphasised comparing operational monitoring data with baseline measurements taken before the plant began operating to assess compliance with international standards.
Discussing the media's role, Anowar Hossain said the public needed accurate, science-based information about nuclear power plants and radiation.
A lack of reliable information or misinterpretation could create unnecessary public panic, he said.
Relevant authorities therefore had a responsibility to communicate accurate information in accessible language and maintain effective information exchange with the media.
He added that the emergency preparedness and response system developed for Rooppur could serve as a model for other relevant institutions in Bangladesh.
He urged participating institutions to give these issues due consideration and make effective use of international experts' experience and recommendations.
Abul Khayer Md Akkas Ali, additional secretary for nuclear energy at the Ministry of Science and Technology, addressed the workshop as a special guest.
In his remarks as chair, Mahmudul Hasan said every person involved in emergency response had a crucial role, from field-level first responders to national decision-makers.
The participation of key stakeholders reflected Bangladesh's integrated preparedness and response capabilities, he said.
He explained that the workshop's primary objectives were to develop a common understanding of the IAEA EPREV mission, identify preparedness gaps through the self-assessment and clearly define each stakeholder's responsibilities and required actions before the mission.
He expressed hope that active participation, constructive feedback and coordinated efforts would enable Bangladesh to demonstrate its nuclear safety and emergency preparedness capabilities during the review.
Representatives of BAERA, the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission and other relevant organisations participated.
Attendees also included technical experts, representatives of the Pabna and Kushtia district administrations, law enforcement agencies, the Armed Forces, medical teams and Department of Environment officials.
The workshop aimed to strengthen stakeholder preparedness for the forthcoming mission, enhance inter-agency coordination during emergencies and further improve Bangladesh's nuclear safety and emergency response capabilities.
A booklet marking the forthcoming IAEA EPREV mission to Bangladesh was also unveiled at the workshop.