Science and Technology Minister Architect Yeafesh Osman said the government provided training facility to 550 boys and girls on nuclear power plant free of cost.
“We have brought 550 boys and girls with training from abroad free of cost,” he told as the chief guest a seminar at CIRDAP.
Atomic Reporters Bangladesh organised the seminar on “Bangabandhu’s Thoughts on 50 Years of Science and Technology in Bangladesh” with its President Ariful Sazzad moderating.
Former Vice-Chancellor of Dhaka University and Chairman of Board of Directors of Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) AAMS Arefin Siddique, Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission Chief Scientific Officer Dr AFM Mizanur Rahman, Professor M Istiaq Syed, Additional Secretary Ali Hossain, Project Director of Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant Dr Shaukat Akbar, Vice President of ARB Mohammad Nasrullah and Secretary Fayez Ahmed Tushar addressed the seminar.
The minister said some 20,000 workers have been engaged in two shifts, adding, “Our boys have achieved ‘A’ grade in the field of works.” He said the Rooppur Power Plant (RNPP) is not only a project for supplying electricity, but also it will change our dignity.
“We are moving towards something better. Even if you know everything all the time, it cannot be said, due to various security issues,” he added.
Yeafesh Osman said Bangabandhu had talked about the project with France after independence, adding, “If he would have alive, it would have been implemented 20 years ago. We are walking aimlessly because of the sin of killing Bangabandhu.”
Regarding implementation of the project, he said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina visited Moscow and met Russian President Vladimir Putin and then the project got a shape.
Arefin Siddique said that Bangabandhu’s was a science-minded person from his student life to the last day.
He said there will be no clerk-based education system in Bangladesh, adding, “Bangabandhu has led the country from the ignorant society to knowledge-based society. We will be able to take that progress forward in the right way.”
Dr Shaukat Akbar said Bangabandhu emphasized for foreign funding for the project in 1966.
“Bangabandhu regretted that the project was not implemented in 1970. Rooppur Nuclear Power Project is Bangabandhu’s dream project,” Dr Shaukat said.
Later, the minister unveiled a publication of ARB.
