Before Expanding Nuclear Power, Build Capacity

Nuclear power can strengthen Bangladesh’s energy security, but expanding it without the institutions and expertise to manage its risks would be a serious mistake. Its benefits depend as much on sound regulation and strong safeguards as on the reactors themselves. This makes the draft Strategic Civil-Nuclear Cooperation Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Bangladesh and the United States particularly important. Building on the 1981 agreement on the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, the proposed framework would cover nuclear power, advanced reactors and small modular reactors (SMRs), alongside nuclear medicine, agriculture, research, radioactive-waste management and workforce development.

The proposed cooperation comes at a time when our industries need dependable power to remain competitive. This need is even greater as exporters currently face uncertainty in major markets. US apparel imports fell 8.65 per cent in January-July 2026, while the country’s RMG exports to the US declined 6.5 per cent to $4.66 billion. We cannot control changes in global demand, but we can improve the conditions in which our industries operate. A stable electricity supply is essential to that effort.

However, expanding nuclear generation is not simply about choosing and buying reactors. These reactors must be safely regulated and operated for decades. And that calls for competent institutions, specialised professionals, effective emergency systems and clear rules on nuclear security, liability and radioactive-waste management. These are basic requirements, not optional additions. The country must therefore develop the capacity to oversee its nuclear programme independently.

The choice of technology also deserves careful scrutiny. Advanced reactors and SMRs may offer useful options, but newer technology is not automatically the right technology. Before making major commitments, authorities should assess costs, financing, safety, grid requirements, waste management and long-term viability. Decisions should be guided by actual national needs and institutional readiness, not technological appeal or geopolitical considerations.

The US partnership can play an important role in building that readiness. But we should seek more than equipment and financing. Technology transfer, professional training, joint research and knowledge-sharing should be central to the agreement, with clear targets for developing local expertise. At the same time, nuclear power should complement domestic gas exploration, renewable energy and improvements to transmission and distribution rather than crowding them out.

The government should carefully examine the proposed MoU, including the concerns raised by the Nuclear Safety and Physical Protection Cell, and ensure meaningful participation by relevant technical and regulatory bodies before making major commitments. Any reactor proposal should meet clearly defined technical, financial and safety benchmarks. 

We welcome deeper civil-nuclear cooperation with the US, but cooperation should make us more capable, not more dependent. Before expanding nuclear power, we must first build the capacity to manage it safely and responsibly.