‘Work of Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant will not be stopped’
28 January 2023
Staff Reporter :
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen said on Friday that the work of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant would not be stopped though the Russian vessel could not unload its materials for the plant at Mongla Port due to US sanctions on the ship.
"It may be delayed for some time to get materials for the plant as the Russian ship had returned home without unloading the equipment. All works are going well," he said in reply to a query of the journalists in Sylhet.
A Russian flag carrier 'Ursa Major' was carrying equipment for Rooppur Power Plant and was scheduled to anchor at Mongla Port on December 24 last year.
But before leaving port, the Russian authority
changed its name to 'Sparta' since the US imposed a sanction on it over Russian invasion in Ukraine.
Before reaching Bangladesh territory, the US Embassy in Dhaka informed the government of Bangladesh about the issue on December 20 to immediately take action if Dhaka wants to avoid any penalties for unloading equipment in Bangladesh territory.
After being confirmed, Bangladesh refused to allow the vessel to anchor at Mongla Port. Even the Russian authorities wanted to unload the materials at Haldia Port of West Bengal, but the India authorities also refused their proposal of unloading.
Finally, the vessel under sanction returned to Russia as it did not get the permission to unload the materials.
About Rohingya issue, he said, "No Rohingya will be allowed to enter Bangladesh territory. It is the government's decision. But some Rohingyas have entered Bangladesh during the recent spate of violence in Myanmar."
He, however, said that those who have come here during the recent violence will be sent them back slowly.
Inaugurating the ICU-3 Unit in the MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital, the minister said that the Unit would contribute to support the serious patients to get improved health facilities in this region.
