Does Bangladesh distribute iodine tablets?

Short answer. No public guidance. Bangladesh is building its first nuclear power plant at Rooppur, in Ishwardi (Pabna district), about 140 km west-north-west of Dhaka, and promulgated a National Nuclear and Radiological Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan in November 2020 ¹. Phaenyx found no official instruction on potassium iodide for the public: no distribution, no zone, no dose table and no sale rule.

Is there a nuclear plant in Bangladesh?

Yes. The Rooppur nuclear power plant is in Pabna district, about 140 km west-north-west of Dhaka ¹. The regulator, the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority (BAERA), issued its siting licence to the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission on 21 June 2016 ¹.

Does the government distribute iodine tablets?

Phaenyx found no official source saying so. Bangladesh's national report to the Convention on Nuclear Safety (2022) explains that the law requires an off-site emergency plan "for the protection of the population within the emergency planning zone during the release of radioactive substances", and that BAERA coordinates the national nuclear and radiological emergency plan ¹. It publishes no iodine distribution, no zone radius and no public dose instruction ¹.

Can I buy potassium iodide?

Phaenyx found no official Bangladeshi rule on the sale of potassium iodide tablets for radiation emergencies. Do not take iodine on your own: potassium iodide protects only the thyroid, and only when taken at the right time on official instruction. See Potassium iodide: dose by age.

What should I rely on instead?

In a radiation emergency, the first protection is to go indoors, close windows and follow the authorities' instructions; see Nuclear plant zones, Radiation decontamination and Shelter in place against chemicals. In Bangladesh, official warnings reach the public by radio, TV, the 1090 line and local volunteers: see the Bangladesh alerts page.

Is there an official dose table?

No. Phaenyx found no Bangladeshi dose table by age group. The general doses used by other agencies are explained in our potassium iodide guide; only take iodine on official instruction.

Frequently asked questions

Do people near Rooppur receive iodine tablets?

Phaenyx found no official source on any distribution. The national report describes an off-site emergency plan for the emergency planning zone, without public iodine guidance ¹.

Who is in charge of nuclear emergencies in Bangladesh?

The Bangladesh Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority coordinates the national nuclear and radiological emergency plan ¹.

Is iodine on the Bangladeshi emergency kit list?

No. The household list of the Department of Disaster Management does not include iodine ².

Preparedness index: Bangladesh ranks 54th of 67, 44.5/100 · full ranking