One more Russian ship carrying machinery for the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) has arrived at Mongla port.This is the fourth arrival of a Russian vessel in Bangladesh since the start of the war in Ukraine last February.The Russian flag carrier, MV ECENIA, carrying 987 MT of different electrical machineries for the power plant, docked at the port’s jetty-8 on Sunday, said Shibli, project manager of the ship's local shipping agent Conveyor Logistics Ltd. Also read: Another Russian shipment for Rooppur arrives at Mongla PortAfter unloading, the machinery from the ship that left Russia on August 17 will be taken to Rooppur Power Plant by road, he added.He also said that the unloading process will be completed soon.Rear Admiral Mohammad Musa, chairman of Mongla Port, said that most of the goods for the country's mega projects are being imported through this port, due to the existing facilities.It saves money for the port users on the one hand, and they are also able to take the goods to the project area in a short time, he added. Also read: How Padma Bridge led to largest shipment of reconditioned cars to arrive at Mongla PortEarlier, three ships carrying equipment for Rooppur NPP arrived at Mongla Port on August 1,5 and 6.

Main concrete works of auxiliary reactor building at unit-1 of Rooppur nuclear power plant (NPP) has been completed eight months ahead of schedule. According to Rosatom, the Russian contractor of the plant, the building is a part of the ‘Nuclear Island’ and is designed to house process instrumentation and control devices. The construction time period of the building was reduced by 241 days thanks to logistic processes optimization and were timely supplied with the required resources like materials and tools. The average volume of concrete laid by specialists of NIKIMT-Atomstroy accounted for 1,600 m3 per month instead of schedule 1,000 m3, it said in a statement. Also read: Generator stator installed at Unit-1 of Rooppur NPP “The pace of work, achieved by the specialists of NIKIMT-Atomstroy, while satisfying all the stringent quality requirements, demonstrates the highest potentials of Rooppur NPP construction workers”, said Alexey Deriy, Vice President of ASE and Project Director for Rooppur NPP Construction. With such high professionalism of our employees, we safely can say that construction of Bangladesh's first NPP will be completed within the scheduled dates, despite a range of challenges including COVID-19 pandemic and complex international situation, he added. Reduced time period in construction allowed reducing the cost, first of all, by means of saving the semi-fixed part of overhead costs and making a significant number of highly qualified labor resources available ahead of schedule, who have already been engaged in performance of other production tasks. Also read: Russia keeps Rooppur plant's equipment shipment uninterrupted Rooppur NPP will be equipped with two Russian VVER-1200 reactors with a total capacity of 2,400 MWe. This is an evolutionary Generation III+ design which fully complies with all the international safety requirements. Engineering Division of Rosatom State Corporation, Russia is the General Designer and General Contractor of the project. According to Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission (BAEC), the implementing agency of the project, the first unit of the Rooppur NPP was scheduled to come into operation in 2022 and second unit in 2024. But later the first unit’s operation was deferred for 2024 and the second unit for 2025.

The National People's Party (NPP) on Wednesday took part in a discussion with President Abdul Hamid on the formation of the Election Commission.  A seven-member delegation led by the party's chairman Sheikh Salauddin Salu took part in the discussion held at the Durbar Hall of Bangabhaban. President's press secretary Joynal Abedin told UNB that the delegation submitted a five-point proposal including enactment of electoral law. READ: President's prescription: 'Boycott the corrupt' They recommended the formation of a search committee consisting of honest and experienced people.  They also called for the formation of an election commission consisting of honest, and non-partisan people believing in the spirit of the Liberation War and making the Election Commission independent and neutral.  The delegation also proposed the formation of an election-time government headed by the prime minister and comprising leaders of registered political parties believing in the spirit of the Liberation War in accordance with Article 56 of the Constitution. Welcoming the NPP delegation, the president said discussions and exchange of views with the political parties would help in forming an acceptable Election Commission.  He said that discussion and exchange of views play a fruitful role in resolving any issue in a democracy.  He thanked the political parties for giving their thoughtful views. Secretary to the President's Office Sampad Barua, Military Secretary Major General SM Salah Uddin Islam, Press Secretary to the President Joynal Abedin were also present on the occasion. President Hamid opened the dialogue on formation of the next EC on December 20. The current EC is scheduled to end its five-year term in February. READ: President's activities on day 2 of visit to home district The country has now 39 registered political parties, according to the EC website and only nine of them have representation in Parliament. The nine parties are Bangladesh Awami League, Jatiya Party, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Bangladesh Workers Party, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal-Jasod, Bikalpadhara Bangladesh, Ganoforum, Bangladesh Tarikat Federation and Jatiya Party-JP. A slew of parties including the BNP, in most people's minds the main opposition to the ruling party, have decided not to participate in the talks. In the past the president has appointed search committees to recommend names to him. 

Reactor pit construction at Rooppur nuclear power project (NPP) unit No.1 in Bangladesh has been completed, said a Rosatom press release.

Support truss has been installed in the reactor building of Unit - 2 of Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant (NPP).