<div style="text-align: justify; "><span style="font-size: 1rem;"><b>Rosatom Director General (DG) Alexey Likhachev today said Bangladesh will be given high powered nuclear reactor for Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant (RNPP) for the optimum electricity generation as he paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.</b></span><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Fresh nuclear fuel will come to Bangladesh in October next year for the RNPP as well, he said.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Likhachev met the prime minister at her official residence Ganabhaban here.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Prime Minister's Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim briefed the newsmen after the meeting.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Rosatom DG told the premier that they want to celebrate the arrival of the fresh nuclear fuel in Bangladesh with participation of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) director general and concerned persons.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Mentioning that they are training up the Bangladeshi people for the RNPP, he said Russia is also interested to conduct research on nuclear science and technology in Bangladesh.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Russia is also providing assistance in building infrastructure for nuclear governance in Bangladesh, he added.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">At the outset of the meeting, Likhachev briefed and explained the Bangladesh premier about the development and progress of the work of the RNPP.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina extended her thanks to Russia, particularly Rosatom DG for providing support and continuing full swing construction during the Covid-19 pandemic.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">She also appreciated Russia for their assistance in the power and energy sector since Bangladesh became independent.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Sheikh Hasina said Russian stakeholders may give emphasis on manpower development of RNPP so that Bangladeshi people could become capable in operating and maintaining the RNPP independently.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">She also laid emphasis on security aspects of the nuclear power plant.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Ambassador-at-large Mohammad Ziauddin, Prime Minister's Principal Secretary Dr. Ahmad Kaikaus, Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Science and Technology Ziaul Hasan, Bangladesh Ambassador to Russia Kamrul Ahsan and Ambassador of Russia in Dhaka Alexander Mantytskiy, among others, were present. BSS</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">bnbd24/kh</div>