Sajeeb Wazed Denies Graft in $12.65 Billion Nuclear Deal

On Tuesday, ousted Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s son and adviser, Sajeeb Wazed, addressed allegations of corruption involving the family. These allegations stemmed from the 2015 awarding of a $12.65 billion nuclear power contract. Wazed described them as “completely bogus” and a “smear campaign.“

Bangladesh’s Anti-Corruption Commission said on Monday that it had launched an enquiry. The enquiry focuses on allegations of corruption, embezzlement, and money laundering in the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant project. This project is backed by Russia’s state-owned Rosatom.

In 2015, officials signed a deal for two power plants, each with a capacity of 1,200 megawatts.

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

Denial of Charges

Rosatom, the world’s largest supplier of enriched uranium, refuted the allegations. It stated that it combats corruption in all its projects. Additionally, it emphasized that it maintains a transparent procurement system.

“Rosatom State Corporation is ready to defend its interests and reputation in court,” it said in an emailed statement to Reuters.

“We consider false statements in the media an attempt to discredit the Rooppur NPP project, which we are implementing to solve the country’s energy supply problems and improve the well-being of the people of Bangladesh.“

Siddiq did not respond to a request for comment.

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

Sajeeb Wazed, speaking on behalf of the family, denied any involvement in the $12.65 billion nuclear deal. He said they were the targets of 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 from Washington, where he lives.

“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 U.S. 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.“

Also See: Bangladesh says Hasina Charged With ‘Crimes Against Humanity’

Bangladesh Seeks Hasina’s Return

Reuters could not contact Hasina, who has not appeared in public since she fled to New Delhi in early August following a deadly uprising against her in Bangladesh. Since then, an interim government has been running the country.

The government in Dhaka said on Monday it had asked India to send Hasina back. New Delhi has confirmed the request but declined further comment.

Wazeb said the family had not made a decision on Hasina’s return to Bangladesh and that New Delhi had not asked her to seek asylum elsewhere.

This news is sourced from Reuters and is intended for informational purposes only