Implementation of IAEA safeguards agreement: Bangladesh perspective

Since long Bangladesh has been using atomic energy and related technology in different fields of health, industry, agriculture, research and education solely for peaceful purposes for socio-economic development of the country. For the purpose of international safeguarding Bangladesh has joined the Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT) in September 1979. In this connection, Bangladesh has also signed IAEA Safeguards Agreement (June 1982) and Protocol Additional (March 2001). Bangladesh is fully committed and transparent in its nuclear activities for ensuing safety and security of all radiation sources, nuclear materials and practices. Bangladesh, as a matter of policy, has incorporated in its legislation the NPT as well as other relevant international/bi-lateral conventions and agreement for compliance by any person or practice dealing with radiation sources and nuclear materials. Convention on physical protection of nuclear materials (1980) and CTBT (March 2000) has also been signed by GOB. Bangladesh has established and maintaining a system of accounting for and control of all nuclear materials in the country and monitoring the safeguarding activities within the framework of NSRC Act (1993) and Rules (1997). Bangladesh is always providing full co-operation to all safeguards related activities conducted by IAEA. So far no mismatch was found and no unwanted nuclear material was detected in Bangladesh by IAEA inspectors. In Bangladesh activities under safeguards agreement are functioning smoothly without any constraints. However, for further improving the effectiveness of safeguards activities proper attention should be given to increase the supervisory activities and technical capability of the regulatory body. Adequate infrastructure should also be developed to cope with the newly emerging situations like the illicit trafficking of nuclear materials and suspected nuclear terrorism that are of great global concern now-a-days. In this regard Bangladesh is going to consider ratification of a new international convention for the suppression of acts of nuclear terrorism. (author)