International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi has sought strong political support from Bangladesh in its endeavours to implement its mandates.

Grossi praised Bangladesh's sustained progress in the development of nuclear science, technology and applications, and reiterated IAEA's strong commitment to continue to support Bangladesh to take the country's strength and capacity to a new height in this area.

He appreciated Bangladesh's achievements in exceeding the IAEA's expectations regarding compliance with nuclear safety, security and safeguard issues.

The director general categorically mentioned that IAEA considers Bangladesh a special country, as the agency is associated in the implementation of the country's nuclear energy programme, among others.

He made the remarks while Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to UN Agencies and other international organisations in Vienna Ambassador Muhammad Abdul Muhith presented his credentials to him recently at the IAEA Headquarters, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs today.

Ambassador Muhith thanked Grossi for accepting his credentials and appreciated the leadership of the DG in taking IAEA onto a higher trajectory in terms of accomplishments in the areas of safety and security, science and technology and safeguard and verification, among others, which the Agency and the member countries attach utmost importance to.

The ambassador updated the DG of the impressive progress of implementation of Bangladesh's first nuclear power plant in Rooppur and deeply appreciated the ongoing existing excellent cooperation between Bangladesh and the IAEA which resulted in undertaking a series of technical cooperation projects in the areas of energy, health, food security and safety, environment contributing to the development of Bangladesh including the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) before 2030.

He requested for extending the purview of the cooperation in the field of Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) to contain the Aedes mosquitoes responsible for spreading dengue fever.

Ambassador Muhith also thanked the Agency and the Director General for providing instantaneous support of the RT-PCR machine, diagnostic kit and safety equipment for capacity building to combat the Covid-19 pandemic.

He reiterated his request to continue to put emphasis on the technical cooperation projects already included in the Country Program Framework, which has greater catalytic impact on the economic development of Bangladesh.

The ambassador reiterated Bangladesh's support for multilateralism in general and IAEA in particular and expressed hope that IAEA will be able to contribute in finding innovative ideas and solutions for mankind to progress and prosper in the Covid-19 induced 'new normal'.