Civil N-pact likely to be signed during PM's India visit  

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will sign civilian nuclear cooperation pact with Indian leader Narendra Modi during her proposed visit to India from April 7.
"We are set to sign three agreements with India in nuclear cooperation, the Cabinet had endorsed all these drafts in the meantime," Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Science and Technology Anwar Hossain told the daily Observer on Thursday.
India and Bangladesh would have the option to renew the agreement for a fresh 40- year term.
The terms of agreement would require taking prior permission from each other before passing information relating to the cooperation to third parties.
The draft agreement prohibits the use of radiological materials, components, equipment and technology or any nuclear materials exchanged under the agreement for manufacturing of nuclear weapons or nuclear explosive devises.
It also requires both the parties to adhere to International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards.
The Cabinet approved the draft of a bilateral agreement including Cooperation in Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy between the two state bodies, which deal nuclear energy, other two agreements will be sign between Atomic Energy Commission of Bangladesh and Global Center for Nuclear Energy of India for greater cooperation among scientists of the two countries, partnership and training. Another deal will be signed between Bangladesh Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority and Atomic Energy Regulatory Board of India.
The basis of the treaty was agreed upon on last December, before the proposed three-day official visit to India, according to sources.
Earlier, the Ministry of Science and Technology had signed a separate deal with the Indian government to provide all kinds of cooperation, including the security of this project through "India-Russia-Bangladesh cooperation deal for successful implementation of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant Project"--a tripartite deal with Bangladesh and Russia.
Specifying the fields in which this tripartite deal will be executed, Article- 2 of the draft said exchanges will be made of knowledge and experience, advisory services, technical assistance and assets in boosting the skill and capability of the workers, including the running of the power plant safely as well as ensuring its security.
"In a fresh move the two countries are set to sign the 40-year agreement under which India would provide assistance in setting up nuclear power plants in Bangladesh, which is a separate one excluding Russia, Anwar said.
The draft agreement requires both the sides to maintain secrecy over the information they exchange.
'India is willing to provide   technical know-how to Bangladesh in peaceful operation of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant, now under implementation with Russian assistance,' Cabinet Secretary Mohammad Shafiul Alam earlier told a news briefing after the cabinet meeting.
"No," he said to the question whether the proposed agreement would allow Indian  control over Bangladesh's lone nuclear power plant adding that the proposed agreement would facilitate transfer of knowledge and sharing of operational experiences between the two countries to ensure peaceful uses of nuclear energy.
In December 2015, Bangladesh and Russia signed a general contract for the implementation of the  Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant in Pabna.
The investment, estimated at US$12.65 billion, is the biggest in Bangladesh for any single project.
Some 2,400 megawatt of power will be available from this plant for 50 years. Works are in progress for experimental opening of the 1,200 megawatt first unit in 2023 and the second unit in 2024. The first unit is expected to go for commercial production in October 2024.