RNPP under Threat: Unrest puts nation’s 1st nuclear power plant at risk
Ishwardi (Pabna) Correspondent :
Daily demonstrations, gatherings, and human chains are being held in and around the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant (RNPP) area, sparking growing concerns over nuclear safety and national security.
The project site, which houses nuclear fuel (uranium), is classified as a Key Point Installation (KPI) of the highest sensitivity. Ongoing unrest has raised questions about the safety culture and management of the country’s first nuclear facility.
Electricity generation and integration into the national grid have already been delayed due to various setbacks. Experts have voiced concerns about both the project’s progress and its security under current conditions. Reports suggest that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has expressed surprise at the situation unfolding within such a high-security installation.
The protests, led by officers and employees of Nuclear Power Plant Company Bangladesh Limited (NPCBL), began on 28 April. Discontent among the workforce has escalated, with demonstrators calling for fair treatment and improved working conditions.
On 6 May, the protest extended beyond the plant area, as NPCBL employees left their workplaces to form a human chain at the Ishwardi upazila headquarters.
A procession and press conference followed, during which Senior Assistant Manager Fahim Shahriar read a written statement outlining their demands.
The statement highlighted longstanding issues within NPCBL, including the absence of an approved organogram, unclear roles and responsibilities, delays in promotions, and salary disparities.
The protesters also pointed to inadequate facilities, including poor sanitation and insufficient support for health and welfare, particularly affecting female staff. They called for the removal of Dr. Md. Zahidul Hasan, Project Director of Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant and Managing Director of NPCBL.
Professor Dr. Md. Shafiqul Islam from the Department of Nuclear Engineering at Dhaka University criticised the protests in such a sensitive site, stating: “There is no precedent for such activities in a highly secure nuclear facility.
If this culture continues, it will jeopardise plant operations and national security.” He urged the authorities to address the grievances through dialogue while maintaining strict adherence to nuclear safety and security protocols.
On the night of 6 May, an official email from NPCBL Secretary S. Abdur Rashid reminded employees that the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant is a ‘1A’ category KPI. The message urged all personnel to refrain from activities that could be deemed undisciplined or disruptive, warning that such actions could compromise the integrity of the facility. Despite the directive, further demonstrations and sit-ins continued on 7 and 8 May.
A senior official, speaking anonymously, described the ongoing activities as “undesirable and reminiscent of industrial labour unrest, not befitting a critical national infrastructure project.” He acknowledged that pandemic-related delays and the incomplete grid connection had hindered progress, and admitted that workers’ welfare had not received adequate attention.
In response to the protests, Managing Director Dr. Md. Zahidul Hasan dismissed the demonstrations as “a personal outburst” and suggested they may be “part of a planned conspiracy.”
He noted that he had only been in the role for four months and that many of the demands-such as changes to service rules and salary grades-require broader government policy decisions. He cited the novelty of the nuclear sector in Bangladesh as a key challenge in resolving institutional issues.
With his retirement set for later this month, Dr. Hasan warned: “The Rooppur project is a national security mega project. Personal grievances, irresponsible conduct, and misinformation regarding this initiative are not only detrimental to the project but also pose a serious risk to Bangladesh’s nuclear security and development ambitions.”
As tensions continue, experts and officials are calling for urgent, high-level intervention to address worker concerns without compromising safety and security at the nuclear facility.