A 12.65 billion dollar award for nuclear power station construction in 2015 was described by the son and adviser of ousted Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina as “completely bogus” and “smear campaign” in the allegations of corruption connected to the family with the awarding of the contract. The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) of Bangladesh has initiated proceedings following the claims of corruption, embezzlement, and money laundering concerning the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant Project with specifications from the Russian state-held Rosatom.
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The commission involved Hasina, his son Sajeeb Wazed, and his niece, British treasury minister Tulip Siddiq, through offshore accounts, allegedly in $5 billion financial irregularities. Rosatom, in turn, denied these allegations, mentioning that it upholds a transparent procurement system and stands to fight corruption in every one of its projects.
Speaking on behalf of the family, Wazed argued that they were victims of political witch-hunting in Bangladesh. He stressed that neither he nor any of his family members have ever gotten involved in government projects or received any money from it. He also denied having any offshore accounts.
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Hasina has not appeared in public since early August when she fled to New Delhi after violent riots broke out against her in Bangladesh. Since then, an interim government has been in control of the country. The government of Dhaka has urged India to send Hasina back, but New Delhi has refused to comment further.