Sheikh Hasina’s son, Sajeeb Wazed, has strongly denied allegations of corruption involving a $12.65 billion nuclear power deal signed in 2015. The deal, for the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant project, was backed by Russia’s state-owned Rosatom. The Anti-Corruption Commission of Bangladesh is investigating claims of corruption, embezzlement, and money laundering related to the project, alleging that around $5 billion was misappropriated, with involvement from Hasina, Wazed, and Hasina’s niece, British Treasury Minister Tulip Siddiq.
Rosatom has denied the allegations, stating that it runs a transparent procurement system and is ready to defend itself in court. Siddiq has also denied any involvement. Wazed, speaking from Washington, dismissed the allegations as a “smear campaign” and insisted neither he nor his family had taken any money from government projects. He explained that they have been living abroad for years and do not have any offshore accounts.
Meanwhile, Hasina, the former prime minister of Bangladesh, fled to New Delhi in August after violent protests in Bangladesh. The government of Bangladesh has asked India to send Hasina back, but India has not made any comments regarding her return.
