Rooppur’s first unit to supply 300MW electricity by August

Bangladesh is set to strengthen its electricity supply as 300 megawatts of power from the first unit of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant is expected to be added to the national grid in August this year, Prime Minister’s Information and Broadcasting Adviser Dr Zahed Ur Rahman said on Tuesday.

Speaking at a press briefing at the Secretariat, he noted that once fully operational, the project will contribute around 10 per cent of the country’s total electricity demand and benefit nearly two crore people.

The adviser also addressed concerns over fuel supply, stating that there is no shortage at present.

He said the country currently has around 1,70,000 metric tonnes of diesel in reserve, with an additional 1,80,000 metric tonnes expected to arrive by 30 April.

He added that the absence of long queues at fuel stations indicates that the situation is stabilising.

Highlighting development initiatives, Dr Zahed said the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council approved 14 projects last month involving over Tk13,445 crore. These include both new and revised projects, with significant investments directed toward power generation, road infrastructure, and local government development.

He added that despite global fuel price increases affecting transport costs, government-fixed fares for buses and minibuses in Dhaka have remained unchanged.

On border security, the adviser said incidents of killings have decreased by 75 per cent, expressing hope that continued diplomatic efforts with neighbouring countries would help bring the number down to zero.

Addressing public health, he reported that more than 94 lakh children have been vaccinated against measles so far, underscoring the government’s focus on reducing child mortality.

Regarding law enforcement, Dr Zahed said recent operations led to the recovery of a large quantity of illegal drugs and arms, with 35 individuals arrested as part of ongoing efforts to curb criminal and terrorist activities.

He also warned that the government will take a strict stance against misinformation in the media, while reaffirming that constructive and factual criticism remains welcome.