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Bangladesh has taken a major step toward joining the global nuclear energy community with the completion of the first power unit of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant, the country’s first nuclear facility.
The milestone was highlighted by Andrey Timonov, Director of the Communications Department of Russia’s State Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom, during a plenary session titled “Russia’s Image in International Media” on September 16.
The session was held as part of the Media Stream programme at the International Festival of Youth (IFY-2026) in Yekaterinburg.
“Rosatom stands at the forefront of global nuclear technology, delivering world-class solutions at every stage of the production cycle—a position reinforced by our extensive international footprint,” Timonov said.
“This year, Rosatom has completed the construction of the first power unit in the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, together with our Bangladeshi partners. Commissioning operations at the unit began this summer,” he added.
Timonov described the project as the emergence of a new nuclear power sector in Bangladesh, stressing its potential to address the country’s energy needs and accelerate technological development.
“We are witnessing the emergence of a new nuclear power, in the peaceful sense of this word,” he said. “The project is designed not only to address the country’s energy needs, but also to give a powerful impetus to its further development.”
He said nuclear power could help Bangladesh achieve in years what took other countries decades to accomplish in terms of technological advancement.
Speaking about his frequent visits to Bangladesh, Timonov praised the country’s natural beauty and people while acknowledging its complex history and rapid development.
“Just ten years ago, there could be no talk of nuclear energy in their country. And today we welcome it as a new nuclear power,” he said.
Timonov also pointed to growing interest among Bangladeshi youths in nuclear science and education.
“A growing number of young people are eager to pursue nuclear education—both in Russia and right here in Bangladesh,” he said.
According to Timonov, the vision of developing nuclear power in Bangladesh dates back several decades. He said the idea was first raised during the Soviet era, when Bangladesh’s leadership approached then-Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev about building a nuclear power plant.
He said the Rooppur project now represents more than an effort to address the country’s energy deficit.
“It is attempting, with the help of a nuclear power plant, to do very quickly what took other countries 60 to 80 years: to make a giant, colossal leap in its development,” Timonov said.
“We went there, it seemed, to build a power plant—but in reality, we built a symbol of national pride. We built an object that the entire country is proud of,” he added.
The International Festival of Youth (IFY-2026) was held in Yekaterinburg from September 11 to 17 under the motto “Follow Your Dream.” The festival received more than 113,000 applications from around the world and brought together 10,000 participants from 191 countries.
Bangladesh was strongly represented at the festival, with around 90 delegates attending the event, according to a press release.
