Latest News

Ousted Bangladesh PM Hasina's kid denies graft in $12.65 billion nuclear deal

Ousted Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's child and adviser on Tuesday explained allegations of corruption involving the family in the 2015 awarding of a $12.65 billion nuclear power agreement as completely fake and a defamation of character.

Bangladesh's Anti Corruption Commission stated on Monday it had actually introduced an enquiry into accusations of corruption, embezzlement and money laundering in the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant project, backed by Russia's state-owned Rosatom.

A deal for 2 power plants, each with a capacity of 1,200 megawatts, was signed in 2015.

The commission has alleged that there were financial irregularities worth about $5 billion including Hasina, her boy Sajeeb Wazed and her niece and British treasury minister Tulip Siddiq, through offshore accounts.

Siddiq and Rosatom did not respond to Reuters requests for comment.

A representative for British Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated Siddiq had denied any involvement in the claims which he had confidence in her. Siddiq would continue in her role, the spokesperson added.

In August, Bangladeshi media priced quote Rosatam as rejecting an earlier media allegation of corruption, saying it was devoted. to transparent working practices, stringent anti-corruption. policies, and openness in all procurement processes.

Wazed, speaking on behalf of the household, said they were the. targets of a political witch hunt in Bangladesh.

These are entirely phony claims and a smear. project. My family nor I have ever been included or taken any. money from any government jobs, he told Reuters from. Washington, where he lives.

It is not possible to siphon off billions from a $10. billion job. We likewise do not have any offshore accounts. I. have actually been residing in the U.S. for 30 years, my auntie and cousins. in the UK for a comparable quantity of time. We certainly have. accounts here, however none people have actually ever seen that type of. money.

Reuters might not call Hasina, who has actually not been seen in. public considering that getting away to New Delhi in early August following a. fatal uprising versus her in Bangladesh. Since then, an. interim government has been running the country.

The government in Dhaka said on Monday it had actually asked India to. send Hasina back. New Delhi has validated the demand but. decreased additional comment.

Wazeb said the household had not made a decision on Hasina's. go back to Bangladesh and that New Delhi had actually not asked her to. seek asylum in other places.

(source: Reuters)