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Scientists, officers, and employees under the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission on Tuesday warned of going on strike—including work and service abstention—if the Ministry of Science and Technology did not address their problems, including stalled salary payments.

The announcement was made at a press conference organised by several platforms of the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission at its headquarters in the capital’s Agargaon,

Bangladesh Atomic Energy Scientists’ Association president ASM Saifullah said that the press conference was arranged to protest at the ministry’s ongoing ‘unwarranted’ interference and ‘authoritarian’ behaviour, which is undermining the commission’s autonomy. 

In response to a question, Saifullah, also a chief scientific officer, said that they would wait a day to see if the ministry took any initiative for discussion.

If the ministry does not take the initiative, they will proceed with work and service abstention, he said.

Saifullah said that the ministry halted funding for the BAEC, jeopardising the continuity of services and research activities, as well as the payment of salaries to its 2,500 current staff and pensions for its scientists, officers, and employees, over the implementation of the iBAS++ system to manage financial activities without a feasibility assessment.

Mentioning that they have not received payment since March this year, he said that the Atomic Energy Commission refused to accept such a method, as it would put the country’s nuclear security at risk.  

‘Since BAEC conducts specialised research and service activities related to nuclear technology in accordance with the guidelines of the International Atomic Energy Agency , there are significant concerns about the feasibility of managing such specialised activities within the iBAS++ system,’ he said.

It is also inappropriate to upload information related to nuclear science research and project operating costs to a public system like iBAS++, ASM Saifullah said, emphasising that this information should remain confidential. Countries do not disclose financial details of nuclear research or personal information about nuclear scientists, he said. 

Saifullah also said that the BAEC signed a deal with Russia’s JSC Atomstroyexport in 2015 to build two 1,200MW units of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant.

According to Section 4(2) of the Nuclear Power Plant Act 2015, the Nuclear Power Plant Company Bangladesh Limited serves as the operator and the BAEC as the owner organisation. 

‘The ministry is attempting to sign the Power Purchase Agreement between the Power Development Board and the Nuclear Power Plant Company Bangladesh Limited without including the commission,’ he said. 

Saifullah also highlighted problems, including payment discrimination, obstruction in promotions faced by the commission’s staff, and discouragement from pursuing higher education abroad by the ministry.  

The BAEC, established under Presidential Order No 15 of 1973 and later reinforced by Law No 23 of 2017, carries out specialised research, education, treatment, and services related to nuclear science through its 40 affiliated institutions.