Honble Chairperson, Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen, Good Morning/Afternoon, It is indeed a great pleasure and honour

for me to have the opportunity to participate in this august gathering of International Ministerial Conference on Nuclear Energy in the 21st century. At the outset I avail of this opportunity to express my heartfelt gratitude to Chinese Atomic Energy Agency (CAEA) and the Government of the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) for the initiative and interest of hosting this important event in Beijing. I express my profound sense of gratefulness for the firm commitment, moral, material and intellectual support of the IAEA and its Member States which enabled organization of this important conference. The history of IAEA is a history of solidarity and the joint actions of the member states, an icon of joint collaboration for Atom For Peace Program. I am confident that this conference will allow the participants to address development and emerging issues relevant to the role of nuclear power in providing clean and sustainable energy for the 21st Century. The conference will also provide an opportunity to review the

-1-

status and prospects of nuclear power to carry forward the positive momentum to further raise the profile of Nuclear Energy.

Respected Delegates, We all share a common understanding that nuclear science & technology is now conceived as a potential instrument of change and can play a decisive and pivotal role in efforts of achieving the much coveted goal of poverty alleviation.

For ensuring sustainable development energy security is the most important strategic issue for all in the 21st Century. Global warming from greenhouse gases caused by excessive and imprudent use of fossil fuels, is a problem we must overcome together to achieve sustainable development. Meanwhile, Asia is displaying a high growth rate in both population and economic development. Therefore, the low energy consumption per capita at present will see a rapid and constant increase in demand in the near future. As such, great importance is attached to the promotion of nuclear power programme and cooperation among Asian countries for their collective response to the future energy demand and expansion of Nuclear Power Program (NPP). We deem, IAEA should come up to face this reality that we share a common fate on this
-2-

crowded planet. To attain the goals of cooperation, it is imperative to combine four elements: a clear objective, an effective technology, a clear implementation strategy, and last but not the least a source of funding.

The greatest challenges of our generation are energy and food security, environment, population boom, and poverty. These are at the same time our most exciting opportunities too. Ours is the generation which has the potential to eradicate extreme poverty to a remarkably substantial degree. We can turn the tide against climate change and steer forward a reversing process of massive extinction of other species. Ours is the generation that can, and must solve the unresolved conundrum of combining economic well-being with energy security and environmental sustainability. We need Nuclear Technology and professionalism, but first of all we need a meaningful and effective collaboration and cooperation having interfaces among the concerned.

Bangladesh is well aware of the new challenges that the nation has to confront in the present context of globalization as well as multiple problems arising with dynamics of time in domestic development. Our Honorable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina MP has declared her
-3-

governments firm determination to bring about a meaningful change in the country. Her vision is to develop a Digital Bangladesh by 2021, a poverty free mid-level developed country. The present strategy of the Government comprises of a comprehensive package approach envisaging poverty reduction and socioeconomic development. For this reliable supply of energy and electricity is a precondition. It is worth mentioning that access to electricity is a constitutional right of the citizens of Bangladesh. Accordingly the government has the vision to provide electricity to all by 2021.

Over the years, due to lack of indigenous energy resources, Bangladesh has become more or less a gas dependent mono energy based country. From studies and surveys it is focused that the country has limited reserve of gas and it is apprehended if natural gas is used at the present rate, this would result in complete depletion of the existing reserves within a short time. So Bangladesh urgently needs to reduce dependence on its indigenous natural gas. Coal as fuel has potential, however, exploitation of it has intricate socio-environmental issus. Under this scenario Nuclear power is an inevitable option for Bangladesh to

-4-

meet her energy security. The clean nuclear power can be a great boon and this proven and matured technology is thus the response to our needs for energy security.

With the rapid changes in global as well as domestic conditions of energy and power generation, our government took some positive initiatives to implement NPP within the shortest possible time. The government has reflected her nuclear vision in the Revised Draft of the National Energy Policy. Accordingly a supporting project on NPP to accomplish essential activities to Implement Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant (RNPP) is under execution. Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission (BAEC) has started necessary activities such as updating and finalizing the Site Safety Report of RNPP; Bid Invitation Specification documents, Comprehensive Nuclear Law and other infrastructure development activities for starting construction of a NPP by 2010.

BAEC prepared a comprehensive Self-evaluation Document on NPP. The IAEA conducted a mission to Bangladesh for reviewing the infrastructure established for construction of NPP based on integrated infrastructure evaluation methodology. To support NPP IAEA has

-5-

approved a technical project for Bangladesh on establishing Nuclear Power. I personally record my appreciation for cooperation of IAEA for the active support and Collaboration.

Mr. Chairman and respected Delegates, To ensure an environment friendly abode earth for 6.5 billion people the world needs a new nuclear order. For this despite differences on many issus the global community need to reach consensus for clean Development Mechanism (CDM), however, appreciating the prevailing pragmatism.

IAEA should come up with policies to address the National Nuclear Infrastructure Development Program, the 19 milestone issues identified by IAEA as the most essential elements, for embarking on 1 st NPP. Reliable fuel supply, spent fuel and waste management, the 3S (Safety, Security, and Safeguard) issus need to be addressed with right attitude and commitment. We call upon the IAEA to play a more proactive role to take up these issues and help its member countries in introducing nuclear power in their respective generation-mix.

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

-6-

Behind every machine and technology the cardinal force is human being. So, in NPP too human resource development deserves the topmost priority. Here IAEA and Technology Supplier Countries can

play a vital role in this respect.

Esteemed Delegates, Ladies & Gentlemen, Once again, I would like to reiterate the strong commitment of the Govt. of Bangladesh to make IAEA the most important proactive forum.

Ladies and Gentleman thank you very much for your kind attention.

-7-