Hasina’s tri-nation tour to focus on tiger, n-plant

DHAKA - Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Sunday began a tri-nation tour to Russia, Belgium and Japan during which she will attend a conference on tigers and discuss investments and setting up a nuclear power plant in the country.

She also hopes to attract investments and assistance for building a bridge over Padma river that will facilitate movement between north and south Bangladesh.

She will attend a conference on saving the tiger in St. Petersburg that starts Monday that will be attended by other heads of government.

She will join a high-level discussion on the natural habitat of tigers and address a session on the issue. She will also meet with Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the conference.

Officials said she will push for Russian assistance for setting up a nuclear power plant for which a memorandum of understanding had been signed earlier this year.

To be set up at Rooppur in Pabna district, Pakistan had, since 1961, been seeking a nuclear power plant in its erstwhile eastern wing that became the independent nation of Bangladesh in 1971. Several countries, including China and India, have shown interest in the project in the past. Dhaka hopes to get clearance from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Hasina will also meet with the leadership of Belgium and the European Union when she arrives in that country, The Daily Star said.

During her four-day visit to Japan, which is a major donor of Bangladesh, she will discuss bilateral ties and seek economic assistance.