Never think of setting up nuclear power plants
Photo: STEVE ALLEN / GETTYIMAGES
The report published in The Daily Star on February 20, 2012 titled "Rooppur Nuke Power Plant, Dhaka eyes soft loan" made me very upset. It said that a high-level government delegation will visit Moscow this month to seek a Russian soft loan for setting up a 1,000 megawatt nuclear power plant at Rooppur in Pabna. The news was like a hard blow to me because from the very beginning when I learned that the government was planning to set up a nuclear power plant, like many conscious citizens and experts I was vocal against it. On April 1, 2011 my letter was published in this column under the heading "Forget the idea of nuclear power plants" in which I mentioned a few suggestions of Mr Waliur Rahman, which he put forward in his letter of March 21, 2011. He urged the Bangladesh government to abandon the plan. He pointed out that Bangladesh is in high risk of earthquakes, we are not as technologically developed as Japan, and Bangladesh is a small country. So in case of radiation people will not be able to move to safer places. His observation is very correct. What will happen if the nuclear power plant develops fault? We shudder to think of the consequences, hell will break loose, and the people of Bangladesh will face the doomsday. Bangladesh is experiencing frequent earthquakes, which will increase the chances of a nuclear disaster. So, the government must not, in any circumstance, set up a nuclear power plant, which could cause unimaginable sufferings to the people. People's lives will be changed forever; they will have to live in constant fear, anxiety and hopelessness. Therefore, the government must immediately stop all activities regarding the nuclear power plants.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments