New Delhi: Deposed Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s son and adviser, Sajib Wazeed, on Tuesday denounced allegations of corruption against the family in the awarding of a $12.65 billion nuclear power contract in 2015.
Wazeed termed the allegations as “totally bogus” and a “smear campaign”.
Bangladesh’s Anti-Corruption Commission said on Monday it has launched an inquiry into allegations of corruption, embezzlement and money laundering at the Rooppur nuclear power plant project, which is backed by Russia’s state-owned Rosatom.
In 2015, an agreement was signed for two power plants, each with a capacity of 1,200 MW.
The commission has alleged that financial irregularities of around $5 billion were committed through the offshore accounts of Hasina Wajid, her son Wajid and her niece and British Finance Minister Tulip Siddique.
Rosatom, the world’s largest supplier of enriched uranium, denied the allegations, adding that it was committed to fighting corruption in all its projects and maintained a transparent procurement system.
“Rosatom State Corporation is ready to defend its interests and reputation in court,” it said in an emailed statement. Reuters.
“We consider the false statements in the media to be an attempt to defame the Rooppur NPP project, which is being implemented to solve the energy supply problems in the country and is aimed at Bangladesh,” the statement added. to improve the welfare of the people of
Siddique did not respond to a request for comment.
A spokesman for British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said that Siddique has denied any involvement in the claims and that she trusts him. The spokesperson added that she will continue in her role.
Wazad, speaking on behalf of the family, said they were victims of political witchcraft in Bangladesh.
“These are completely false allegations and a dirty campaign. Neither my family nor I ever involved in any government project,” he said. Has not taken any money.” Reuters From Washington, where he lives.
“It’s not possible to make billions out of a $10 billion project. We don’t have any offshore accounts either. I’ve been living in the US for 30 years, my aunt and cousin in the UK for the same amount of time. Obviously. We have accounts here, but none of us have seen this kind of money,” he said.
Reuters Hasina, who has not been seen in public since fleeing to New Delhi in early August following a deadly coup against her in Bangladesh, could not be reached. Since then, an interim government has been running the country.
The government in Dhaka said on Monday that it had asked India to extradite Hasina. New Delhi confirmed the request but declined to comment further.
Wazeeb said the family had not made any decision about Hasina’s return to Bangladesh and New Delhi had not asked her to seek refuge elsewhere.