News Desk

Russian diplomats were presented with commemorative crests and congratulatory letters at a ceremony in Dhaka on Thursday in recognition of Russia’s cooperation and technical assistance in the construction of Bangladesh’s Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant.

The ceremony was attended by Vyacheslav Sentyurin, minister-counselor at the Russian Embassy in Bangladesh; Pavel Iudakhin, first secretary; and Anastasia Nemova, first secretary, along with other embassy officials and diplomats.

Jatiya Party Co-Chair Md. Sahidur Rahman Tapa and Sunil Shuvo Roy also attended the event and presented the commemorative crests and congratulatory letters to the Russian diplomats. Nazneen Sultana, editor-in-chief of The Daily Ghoshana, was also among the participants.

The commemorative crests and letters were presented as a gesture of appreciation for Russia’s contribution to the Rooppur project, particularly its technical assistance and cooperation during the construction of the plant.

Speakers at the ceremony described Rooppur as a major development in Bangladesh’s power and energy sector. They said the project is expected to strengthen the country’s electricity supply and contribute to long-term energy security, while also supporting economic growth and industrial development.

Located in Pabna district, about 160 km northwest of Dhaka, Rooppur is Bangladesh’s first nuclear power project. It is being developed with Russian technical and financial assistance.

The project comprises two nuclear reactor units based on Russia’s VVER-1200 technology. The plant is expected to make a significant addition to Bangladesh’s electricity-generation capacity once the units enter commercial operation.

Participants also highlighted the longstanding ties between Bangladesh and Russia and expressed hope that bilateral cooperation would expand further in the years ahead.

Speakers said the experience and technical expertise developed through the Rooppur project could provide a foundation for broader cooperation between the two countries, particularly in energy, technology and other areas of mutual interest.

The ceremony comes as Bangladesh seeks to expand its electricity-generation capacity and diversify its energy mix to meet rising demand from households, businesses and industry.

Bangladeshi authorities have described the Rooppur project as a major infrastructure undertaking and a significant step in the country’s efforts to introduce nuclear energy into its electricity-generation system.

Other Russian Embassy officials and people associated with the project were also present at the ceremony.