Dr Md Kabir Hossain named new director of Rooppur Project

Dr Md Kabir Hossain, chief scientific officer at the Human Resources Department of the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission, has been appointed as the new Project Director of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant, the country’s first nuclear power facility under construction in Ishwardi, Pabna.

His appointment was confirmed in an office order issued by ASM Mosa, senior assistant secretary of the Ministry of Science and Technology, on Sunday (May 25). He replaces outgoing project director Jahedul Hasan.

Dr Kabir Hossain brings over two decades of experience to the role, having joined the Atomic Energy Commission in 2000. He previously served as Head of Human Resources and held the post of Deputy Project Director in the 2024–25 fiscal year.

The Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant, being implemented by the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission with technical and financial support from Russia, is one of the country’s largest infrastructure undertakings. The plant is designed to generate 2,400 megawatts of electricity through two separate units.

In March, a 12-member delegation from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) visited the site to assess its structural and technical progress, providing positive feedback on its readiness.

Initially scheduled for completion in October 2025, the project timeline was extended to 2027 in February of this year. The estimated cost of construction stands at $13.2 billion, with Russia financing 90 percent through a state loan. An additional $2 billion is expected to be spent on associated activities.

India joined the project as a strategic partner in 2017, and construction of the first unit began on November 30 of that year.