Ousted Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s son and adviser on Tuesday (December 24) dismissed corruption allegations related to a $12.65 billion nuclear power contract as “completely bogus” and part of a “smear campaign.”
On Monday, Bangladesh’s Anti-Corruption Commission announced it had initiated an investigation into claims of corruption, embezzlement, and money laundering concerning the 2015 Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant project, which Russia’s state-owned Rosatom backs.
Allegations Against Sajeeb Wazed And Family
The commission has accused Sheikh Hasina, her son Sajeeb Wazed, and her niece, British Treasury Minister Tulip Siddiq, of being involved in financial irregularities worth approximately $5 billion through offshore accounts linked to the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant project.
Investigators were examining “questionable procurement practices related to the overpriced construction” of the plant, the commission said.
“The claims of kickbacks, mismanagement, money laundering, and potential abuse of power raise significant concerns about the integrity of the project and the use of public funds,” it added.
The graft allegations against Sheikh Hasina and her family also extend to the alleged theft of funds from a government housing scheme intended for the homeless.
In August, Rosatom rejected previous media claims of corruption, stating its commitment to transparent practices, strict anti-corruption policies, and openness in all procurement processes.
Wazed Calls Accusations A Political Witch Hunt
Wazed, who currently lives in the U.S., characterized the accusations as a political witch hunt in Bangladesh.
“These are completely bogus allegations and a smear campaign. My family nor I have ever been involved or taken any money from any government projects,” he told Reuters.
“It is not possible to siphon off billions from a $10 billion project. We also don’t have any offshore accounts. I have been living in the US for 30 years, my aunt and cousins in the UK for a similar amount of time. We obviously have accounts here, but none of us have ever seen that kind of money.”
Hasina, 77, fled Bangladesh on August 5, seeking exile in India. Her departure has sparked outrage among many locals, who are demanding she face trial for alleged “mass murder.”