Reaching Critical Will

Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)

Conference on Disarmament

General Assembly First Committee

UN Disarmament Commission

Special Session on Disarmament

Model Nuclear Inventory 2007
Bangladesh

Location and capability of nuclear facilities
Nuclear activities
International non-proliferation efforts
Positions taken in international fora on various issues of disarmament

1. Location and Capability of Nuclear Facilities

Since 1965, Bangladesh has planned to build a nuclear reactor at Rooppur to address its constant shortcomings of electricity. First, Westinghouse was to build it then Canada, the Soviet Union, France and even Saudi Arabia has been involved in the reactor project. In 1997 the World Bank refused to finance the project. The IAEA is willing to provide consultancy in the installation and operation of a nuclear reactor at the Rooppur plant. The A 300 MWe PWR plant is expected to commence operation in 2009.
http://www.antenna.nl/wise/index.html
http://www.antenna.nl/wise/499-500/countr.html
http://www.world-nuclear.org/nb/nb01/nb0134.htm
http://www.worldenergy.org/wecgeis/publications/reports/ser/nuclear/nuclear.asp

Research Reactors
Operational –1 (Triga Mark II)
http://www.iaea.or.at/worldatom/rrdb/

2. Nuclear Activities

Research Centers
Atomic Energy Centre (AECD), Dhaka
Bangladesh's Atomic Energy Research Establishment (BAERE)
Nuclear Medicine Institute (INM)
Nuclear Medical Centers (NMC)
Beach Sand Exploration Centers (BSEC), Coxbazar
Radiation Testing Laboratory, Chittagong
Rooppur Plant at Pabna
Atomic Energy Research Establishment (AERE).
http://www.rca.iaea.org/BGD/BAEC%20Latest%20WelCome%20Page%20.htm

Cooperation
United States: In November 2000, Bangladesh signed an agreement with the US for cooperation on the peaceful (sic) use of nuclear power. Under the agreement, Bangladesh is to receive technical assistance for its planned Rooppur nuclear plant. http://archive.wn.com/2004/01/30/1400/bangladeshpower/

China: Bangladesh signed an agreement with China in April 2005 on the use of nuclear energy, aimed at strengthening the country’s capacity to explore and exploit nuclear minerals available in coastal and hilly areas. The agreement would also pave the way for developing nuclear reactors for power generation. http://www.dailyexcelsior.com/web1/05mar21/inter.htm#4
http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/inf47.html

IAEA: The Technical Co-operation Department of the IAEA completed several projects in Bangladesh during 2002, i.e. training in neutron and thermal analyses on the TRIGA reactor, training on radioactive waste management, and training on clinical applications of gamma camera imaging. http://www-tc.iaea.org/tcweb/achievements/Achievements2002.pdf

3. International Non-Proliferation Efforts

Treaties Signed and Ratified, date of deposit
APM Convention, 6 September 2000
Biological Weapons Convention, 11 March 1985
Certain Conventional Weapons Convention, 6 September 2000
Chemical Weapons Convention, 25 April 1997
Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, 8 March 2000
Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, 31 August 1979
Outer Space Treaty, 14 January 1986

Bangladesh ratified the IAEA Additional Protocol on 30 March 2001.

Multilateral Groups
Conference on Disarmament

4. Positions Taken in International Fora on Various Issues of Nuclear Disarmament

Disarmament: “We wish to remind that the greatest threat to humanity comes from the continued existence of nuclear weapons and their possible use or threat of use. It is with grave concern that the nuclear weapon states, instead of disarmament, are acquiring more precision capability to the existing stockpiles as well as developing new types of weaponry. Such developments will only make these weapons more attractive to the terrorists for acquisition and use, bringing havoc for all of us. Bangladesh continues to believe that total elimination of nuclear weapons is the only absolute guarantee against the use or threat of use nuclear weapons. Until that we demand reaffirmation of the negative security assurances provided by the nuclear weapon states.” - Statement by Advisor for Foreign Affairs Reaz Rahman to the First Committee of the 61st UNGA, New York, 2nd October 2006.
http://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/political/1com/1com06/statements/Bangladeshoct2.pdf

ICJ Opinion: “We are also convinced that nuclear weapons have served no purposes of the humanity. We also reject the doctrines that view nuclear weapons as legitimate means of war fighting. The International Court of Justice have rightly concluded that ‘the threat or use of nuclear weapons would generally be contrary to the rules of international law applicable in armed conflict, and in particular the principles and rules of humanitarian law.’” - Statement by Ambassador Dr. Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury at the Disarmament Commission, 11 April 2006.
http://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/political/dc/statements06/bangladesh11april.pdf