BAEC protest against 'unwarranted Interference and authoritarian conduct by ministry'

Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission (BAEC) held a press conference in the capital on Tuesday over a number of issues. Leaders of different organizations of the EAEC organized it on behalf of behalf of the scientists, officers, and staff of all levels at the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission (BAEC) to protest the allged ongoing unwarranted interference by the ministry and its authoritarian behaviour, which have undermined the commission's autonomy.

BACKGROUND AND IMPORTANCE OF THE COMMISSION:

They said, the BAEC was established under Presidential Order No. 15 of 1973 and later under Act No. 23 of 2017, the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission (BAEC) is a specialized body created to conduct peaceful applications, development, expansion, related research, services, and education in nuclear energy. It is also responsible for implementing development projects concerning nuclear power plants and related matters in Bangladesh in accordance with the principles set forth by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). With 40 iristitutes under its jurisdiction, the commission conducts specialized research, education, and medical and service-oriented activities related to nuclear science. Annually, over 800,000 individuals and more than 100 institutions

benefit from various services provided by the Commission, generating substantial revenue. Key services include aflordable cancer diagnosis and radionuclide therapy, radioisotope supply to hospitals, tissue banking, radiation checks on imported food, sterilization of life-saving drug materials, radioactive waste management, irradiation of export goods, various sample analyses, calibration of radiation equipment, exploration of radioactive minerals, and the operation of a 3 MW research reactor and a 3 MV Tandem accelerator. The Commission also supports higher education by allowing over a hundred students from various universities to complete Master's and PhD theses each year at no cost. Over the past 50 years, tsAEC has built intemational-standard capabilities through sustained nuclear research.

Under the direct supervision of its scientists, the country's first nuclear power plant is currently being constructed in Rooppur, Fabna.

CURRENT CRISIS AND DISCRIMINATION:

Crisis of Autonomy: Despite the Commission's intended structure, which includes a Chairman with scientific expertise and four members, key leadership positions remain vacant, causing operational stagnation.

Currently, only one acting Chairman and one member are in charge. The lack of a full Commission and continued ministerial interference have deprived BAEC scientists, officers, and staff of the rights and benefits granted under the 2017 BAEC Act and 1985 Service Rules.