Shahriar Islam Shovon :
The Ministry of Science and Technology has allegedly obstructed several key international opportunities for scientists from the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission (BAEC), raising serious concerns over the future of one of the nation’s most sensitive institutions.
Dr. Moniruzzaman Suman, a principal geologist at BAEC, was recently awarded a prestigious Fulbright Visiting Scholar Fellowship for a six-month research programme focused on radioactivity studies.
However, sources report that the Ministry denied him permission to participate and subsequently moved through the highest court to cancel his government order (GO). Similarly, a distinguished scholarship awarded to scientist Saifur Rahman for advanced studies in Japan was reportedly blocked.
A worrying pattern has emerged in which workshops and scientific conferences abroad are attended not by qualified scientists, but by ministry bureaucrats. Insiders allege a deliberate conspiracy to weaken the BAEC, claiming that certain entrenched elements within the Ministry are systematically working to cripple the organisation and its scientists.
It is alleged that the motive behind these actions is to prevent experts from gaining the knowledge necessary to expose substantial corruption linked to the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant project, reportedly involving misappropriation of thousands of crores of taka under the previous Hasina government.
While BAEC technically owns the Rooppur plant, operational control is said to rest largely with Russian and Indian personnel, with Bangladeshi experts sidelined. Further irregularities have been alleged, including the awarding of contracts to private companies without appropriate oversight from BAEC, suggesting systemic financial misconduct.
Adding to these concerns, BAEC has reportedly been financially strangled. For the past two months, salaries for approximately 2,500 employees, including 600 scientists, have been withheld following the freezing of government funding.
The annual allocation for BAEC stands at a meagre Tk 360 crore, significantly lower than the Tk 1,100 crore allotted to Pakistan’s atomic commission and the Tk 35,000 crore received by its Indian counterpart.
Of Bangladesh’s allocation, Tk 280 crore is government-provided, with Tk 80 crore self-generated by BAEC. The deliberate withholding of these funds has pushed the institution to the brink of collapse.
Official records show that for 14 international scientific events recently held in the USA, Austria, and South Korea, the Ministry exclusively nominated bureaucrats, excluding scientists altogether.
Among the attendees were Additional Secretary Md Moinul Islam Titas at a nuclear security training in the USA, Deputy Secretary Mohammad Ashraful Afsar at a nuclear security network programme in Vienna, and Senior Assistant Secretaries Farzana and Md Sanowar Hossain at workshops in Austria and Sydney respectively.
Speaking to the media, Dr. Moniruzzaman Suman expressed disbelief that the Ministry would resort to the highest court to block his Fulbright fellowship. “Receiving a Fulbright is a great honour.
The implication that I would abscond is both baseless and deeply insulting,” he said, stressing that his case is not isolated, with others like Saifur Rahman also facing similar obstructions.
Members of the scientific community have warned that unless immediate action is taken, attempts to dismantle Bangladesh’s nuclear sector may succeed. Dr. ASM Saifullah, President of the Bangladesh Atomic Scientists’ Association, stated: “This is a highly sensitive sector. Our scientists work with dedication and honour.
We may not protest on the streets like others, but we will soon submit a formal memorandum to the Chief Adviser.”
Repeated attempts to obtain a response from the Secretary of the Ministry of Science and Technology were unsuccessful.
