Chief Adviser Seeks Cooperation from Rosatom, the Same Entity Accused of Bribing Tulip Siddiq

Staff Reporter

Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser, Dr. Muhammad Yunus, has held a meeting with Alexey Likhachev, Director General of Russia’s State Atomic Energy Corporation, Rosatom, the implementing agency of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant project. The meeting took place on Wednesday (February 26) afternoon at the state guesthouse Jamuna, where discussions focused on the progress of the Rooppur project and enhancing cooperation between Bangladesh and Russia.

During the meeting, the Chief Adviser praised Rosatom’s support and stated, “The Rooppur project will play a crucial role in meeting Bangladesh’s growing energy demands, and timely completion of the project is essential for its successful implementation.”

Rosatom’s Director General, Alexey Likhachev, also pledged continued cooperation, saying, “We are ready to work more closely with Bangladesh on this project.”

Meanwhile, between September and December of last year, controversial allegations surfaced against Rosatom, claiming that the corporation had bribed former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her family members with $5 billion in connection with the Rooppur project. Following these allegations, a writ petition was filed against Tulip Siddiq in Bangladesh, and an investigation was launched in the UK, leading to her resignation.

However, Russian Ambassador Alexander Mantytsky dismissed these allegations as “rumors” and “falsehoods.” He told reporters, “This is completely false, and our company, Rosatom, has already issued a statement on this matter.”

Despite these allegations, Chief Adviser Yunus has sought cooperation from Rosatom, creating a controversial stance for many. Even after the accusations against Rosatom, the Chief Adviser met with the Russian delegation to seek their assistance in the successful implementation of this critical project.