Is a nuclear disaster looming in Bangladesh?

IN an article entitled “Amend Bangladesh Atomic Energy Regulatory Act 2012” (DS, August 31), I pointed out that the qualifications and experience of the chairman and members of the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority (BAERA) did not conform with the recommendations of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) as detailed in the guidebook, Manpower Development for Nuclear Power. The BAERA, by the way, is responsible for ensuring the health and safety of the general public and the plant workers against any harmful effects of nuclear radiations.

The Bangladesh Atomic Energy Regulatory (Amendment) Bill, 2014 was passed by the parliament on September 14. Surprisingly, instead of bringing the qualifications and experience in conformity with the IAEA guidelines, the amendment further relaxed the qualifications of the top brass of BAERA to “adequate qualification and experience about nuclear energy management.” “Adequate qualification and experience” is a vague term subject to interpretations. In technical terminology, it carries little significance. Moreover, management of nuclear energy does not necessarily imply nuclear safety. The door has thus been opened, perhaps deliberately, to any Tom and Harry to occupy the top positions of BAERA. It shows that the authorities are least concerned about the safety of the proposed nuclear plant at Rooppur.

The real motive for making the amendment is a mystery. It is probable that the changes were made because of unavailability of sufficiently qualified and trained engineers. In that case, our priority should have been to train necessary manpower first before embarking on an ambitious nuclear power programme. Furthermore, the concerned authorities are solely responsible for creating this crisis. They, perhaps due to negligence or incompetence, did not initiate any serious programme of recruitment and training of nuclear engineers during the last six years in spite of our strong recommendations at a round table organised by The Daily Star and ABUETA (DS, May 10, 2009) and attended by the adviser on power and energy and the state minister of science and technology. Did we not have enough time to train at least fifty nuclear engineers with MS degrees by now if we had acted promptly at that time?

The recent amendment could partly relax the experience only in selected cases but certainly not the requirements of qualifications or training. How can one ensure nuclear safety without a solid background (at least at MS level) in nuclear engineering and nuclear reactor safety? It is inconceivable and unacceptable in the nuclear industry. By relaxing the qualifications and experience of the top officials of the BAERA, the authorities have acted most irresponsibly and put the country at the risk of a likely 'man-made' nuclear disaster.

The writer is a former chief engineer of Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission.