Special Correspondent :
Financial irregularities worth US$5 billion have been alleged in the Rooppur Nuclear Power Project. Allegations of corruption, embezzlement and money laundering in the project have created a huge stir in Bangladesh. The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has started an investigation into the matter. A five-member special investigation team is looking into the allegations.
According to information received from various open sources, financial irregularities worth about US$5 billion have been committed in the project. The allegations state that former Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina, her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy and niece Tulip Siddique have embezzled this money from the project through various offshore bank accounts in Malaysia.
In addition, there have been some other allegations related to Tulip Siddique’s family. It is alleged that about US$900 million has been laundered in the name of her uncle Tariq Ahmed Siddique, who is the Prime Minister’s security advisor, and his family members through fake companies Prachhaya Limited and Destiny Group. This money was laundered to various countries including the UK and another company named Jumana Invest and Properties Limited was formed in the UK.
In addition, allegations have been made against British Labour Party MP Tulip Siddique of having a secret relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Although the Rooppur project was started to meet the growing energy demand of Bangladesh, it has been highly controversial due to allegations of corruption, mismanagement and abuse of power. If these allegations are proven, it will be considered a serious blow to the country’s public interest and management of public funds.
In addition, a new discussion has begun on the allegations of laundering 300 million US dollars to the United States against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy. In 2014, Sajeeb Wazed Joy’s name came up for the first time as a suspect in money laundering in the United States v. Rizvi Ahmed case. Later, an investigation by the US intelligence agency found information about a financial scam against him.
The investigation revealed that money was transferred from various offshore bank accounts in Hong Kong and the Cayman Islands to various bank accounts in Washington and New York, USA, and London, UK. It is alleged that these transactions were conducted through local money exchanges. The US intelligence agency confirmed this information through its representative in London and found evidence of serious financial irregularities and money laundering against Sajeeb Wazed Joy.
In addition, the US Department of Justice’s Senior Trial Attorney Linda Samuels contacted Special Agent La Prevot and learned that $300 million was transferred from Bangladesh to various bank accounts in the United States.
In addition, an investigation has been launched against Sheikh Hasina, her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy, her younger sister Sheikh Rehana, and Rehana’s daughter Tulip Siddique for alleged corruption of Tk 80,000 crore. The complaint states that this corruption occurred in 9 projects during the Awami League government from 2009 to 2023, including the Rooppur Nuclear Power Project and the Special Shelter Project.
The special investigation team has already collected preliminary identification information of the suspects from the Election Commission office and the Immigration and Passport Department. In addition, a special demand letter has been sent to the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU), where it has been directed to provide documents and transaction details of the offshore bank accounts of the concerned persons.
If these allegations are proven, it is believed to create a major challenge in the financial sector and management of public funds in Bangladesh.
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