Bangladesh's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina told the national parliament Wednesday that her government will set up a nuclear power plant to meet the growing demand for power.

"We are taking initiatives to set up a nuclear power plant at Rooppur site," she said responding to question from a member during the prime minister's question-answer time in parliament.

According to a government project proposal, a 600 MW nuclear power plant will be constructed at Rooppur located in the country' s western region.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has already agreed to provide assistance to Bangladesh and approved a Technical Assistance Project on Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant for the cycle 2009-2011.

Presently the country is facing power shortage of nearly 2,000 MW.

Hasina's new government, taking office in early January, has a plan to increase the power production from 3,500 MW to 7,000 MW in next five years.

(Xinhua News Agency March 4, 2009)