Pabna Correspondent: Once upon a time there were doubts and concerns among the villagers of the area regarding the implementation of Rooppur nuclear power project. However, the project has changed the fortunes of hundreds of thousands of local and foreign workers in the commercial center built around the human employment. Now the victory song of Rooppur nuclear project is on everyone’s lips. And the sweet anticipation of economic growth for the future with immense potential.
The remote village of Ishwardi, Rooppur, has changed due to the nuclear power project under construction. Once it was dusk where the silence of the night descended into darkness. There is activity day and night. The economic picture of the region has changed with the arrival of about five thousand Russians, Belarusians, Kazakhs and foreigners. Skyscrapers and beautiful residential buildings have been built in the barren land of Char. There are glitzy shopping malls, exotic restaurants and resorts.
In 2015, there was only a barbed wire fence in the new market area of Rooppur. All around are empty fields and two-one temporary structures. It is not unusual to mistake the former wasteland for a modern city in Russia. The atmosphere here has changed and the cultural mix of Rashan and Bengali has created a friendly and sweet relationship. Russians and Bengalis are friends now. The address is also ‘friend’. Apart from Ruppur, neighboring Pakshi, Sahapur and Ishwardi have also been affected by the change. Life has changed. Foreign culture is also touched in life. From fruit and vegetable sellers, many have learned the Russian language out of necessity. Many Bengalis have learned the Russian language to trade with Russian citizens.
A great campaign is going on around the construction of a nuclear power plant at a cost of 1 lakh 13 thousand crore rupees on the banks of the Padma river. The picture of the area is changing since the project started. Thousands of unemployed youths have been given employment opportunities in the project. Along with the change in fortunes, the way of life and the social picture have also changed.
Green City has been built here for foreigners. Foreign workers of the project are staying in 20 buildings with 20 floors. Thousands of people have been employed in various establishments including hotels, resorts, and shops outside the Green City. Pakshi, Sahapur, Rooppur and Ishwardi towns have built up several shopping malls, modern shopping malls, supershops, resorts and three-star quality star hotels to meet the daily needs of foreign citizens including shopping. Due to the employment of local and foreign nationals in the Rooppur project, many buyers, including Russians, come to the market shop. Business is better than ever. Where there was a rich mill earlier, the market was created due to the lack of good business.
A new bazaar can be seen, with a touch of Russian culture in various establishments. Along with English, Bengali, Russian language is being used on the signboard. The restaurant is named Russian Dine, Russian Fashion. The project has brought major changes in the communication system. The former chairman of Pakshi Enamul Haque Biswas said that the socio-economic condition of the area has changed greatly with the employment of thousands of people.
Upazila Engineer Enamul Kabir said that 100 km paved road has been constructed in this upazila at a cost of about 200 crore taka. A new railway line has been constructed on 26 km of Ishwardi at a cost of Tk 335 crores to transport the heavy goods of Rooppur project by rail.
In 1961, an initiative was taken to establish this nuclear power plant at Rooppur. After a long time, its implementation was not possible. After the Awami League government came to power in 2009, an agreement was signed with Russia. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina laid the foundation stone of Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant in October 2013. Work started on November 30, 2017. There are two units in the 2,400 MW power plant set up on 1,62 acres of land. The first units will go into production in 2023. A second unit of equal capacity is scheduled to be commissioned next year. Russia is providing financial and technical support for the project.
Rooppur nuclear project director. Shaukat Akbar said that 25 thousand domestic and foreign engineers and workers are working in this project. Among them there are about 5 thousand officials and workers from different countries including Russia, Belarus, India.
Talked to Professor Abul Kalam Azad, former teacher of Pakshi College and researcher of Liberation War about Rooppur Nuclear Power Project. He said, once upon a time there were various doubts and worries among the surrounding villagers. Whether the project will be built at all. Now this area of Ishwardi has become an economic zone with the employment of thousands of people in the project and local and foreign people. The fate of the local people has changed. Now the victory song of Rooppur nuclear project is in the mouth of people.
