Bangladesh marked a major energy milestone when the first unit of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant reached criticality on 11 October, confirming a self‑sustaining nuclear reaction. Officials hailed the breakthrough as a key step toward bolstering the nation’s energy security, diversifying its power mix and advancing low‑carbon fuel systems. The plant, built in partnership with Russia’s Rosatom, now moves into a series of safety and performance tests before full grid integration, with a power‑up targeted for 20 November. This development is expected to reduce reliance on fossil fuels, support industrial growth, and position Bangladesh among the few South Asian countries with operational nuclear capacity. [[1]]