Published : 26 Sep 2026, 06:08 PM
Updated : 26 Sep 2026, 06:42 PM
Sergio Gor, special envoy to President Donald Trump, met Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman on Aug 1, when Washington proposed renewing the memorandum of understanding on civilian nuclear cooperation.
State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed had said the proposal was “positively” received.
Asked on Aug 3 about the government’s position, she said: “The government’s position is positive. If any bilateral agreement or relationship with the US serves the interests of the people of Bangladesh, we will move forward.”
As per the foreign ministry officials, Bangladesh and the US signed their first civilian nuclear cooperation agreement in 1981. It was not renewed after 1991.
The renewed agreement comes as construction of Bangladesh’s first nuclear power plant in Rooppur, built with Russian assistance, nears completion.
The US enters peaceful nuclear cooperation agreements with countries under the Atomic Energy Act.
Since such agreements are concluded under Section 123 of the law, they are known as “123 agreements”.
According to the US Department of Energy, Washington has such agreements with 26 countries and organisations, through which it has established civilian nuclear cooperation with at least 50 countries.
