Russia and Bangladesh have signed a contract on the joint construction of the first Bangladeshi nuclear power plant, a spokesperson for the Russian state nuclear corporation Rosatom said on Wednesday. Under the contract, the Russian nuclear power equipment and service export monopoly Atomstroyexport, part of Rosatom, agrees to construct and coordinate the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant (NPP).

"The signing of the contract took place during the visit of Rosatom Director General Sergey Kiriyenko to Bangladesh," the spokesperson told RIA Novosti. An initial proposal to construct a NPP at Rooppur was first discussed with the Soviet Union at the turn of the 1960s, but no agreement was reached.

In 2009, Bangladesh resumed talks on the matter with the Russian government, and as a result, the sides reached an intergovernmental agreement on the issue in 2011. Rosatom agreed to start construction in 2013, but it was suspended as Bangladeshi scientists and activists raised concern over the safety and economic viability of the plant.

earlier report
Russia Delivers 5 Mi-171 Multirole Helicopters to Bangladesh
Russia has delivered five Mi-171 multirole helicopters to Bangladesh, the aircraft's manufacturer, Russian Helicopters, said in a statement Thursday.

All the helicopters supplied to Bangladesh are equipped with modern navigation systems, which enable the aircraft to be operated at any time of the day and in any weather conditions, the company said.

"The Russian Helicopters holding has delivered a batch of five Mi-171Sh combat-transport helicopters to the Bangladesh Defense Ministry. [The authorities] plan to involve the newly-acquired Mi-171Sh in carrying out UN humanitarian operations and missions in areas with high criminality, as well as performing the traditional tasks of cargo transportation and maintaining border security," the statement reads.

The purchase of the helicopters by Bangladesh was financed by a state loan for the purchase of Russian military equipment. The contract was signed by Russia's state arms exporter Rosoboronexport at the end of 2013.

According to the statement, Russian-made Mi-171 helicopters are in operation in a number of countries, including in China, Ghana, Indonesia, Peru, Brazil and Kazakhstan.

Source: Sputnik News