ROSATOM Rejects Corruption Claims in Rooppur Nuclear Project: M A Arafat

Staff Correspondent

Dhaka, Dec. 20 — Awami League leader Mohammad Ali Arafat has criticised the Anti-Corruption Commission’s (ACC) decision to investigate alleged corruption involving the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant (RNPP). He called the move a disinformation campaign aimed at maligning former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her family.

The ACC, reconstituted under the interim government led by Dr. Muhammad Yunus, launched the investigation following a High Court directive. The court acted on a petition by Bobby Hajjaj, leader of a BNP-linked political party. The petition cited a report by the Daily Kalerkontho, which referred to a story from the Global Defense Corporation (GDC), a website accused of spreading disinformation.

Arafat dismissed the allegations, stating they were based on unverified claims from a “sham website.” He pointed out that the GDC report contained spelling errors and lacked transparency. A Dhaka Tribune investigation revealed that the website’s registration details were suspicious and linked to a privacy-protected entity.

Russian state nuclear agency ROSATOM, which is collaborating with Bangladesh on the RNPP, has denied the allegations. In an August statement, ROSATOM described the GDC report as an attempt to tarnish the project’s reputation. The agency said it was prepared to pursue legal action to defend its interests.

ROSATOM issued a follow-up statement in September, explaining why the project’s costs were higher than those of a similar project in India. The agency said such comparisons were misleading due to differences in project specifications and local conditions.

Arafat also criticised media houses for publishing reports based on unverified sources. He said the current political climate, marked by threats and restrictions on journalists, has made it easier for disinformation to gain traction.

Sheikh Hasina, her sister Sheikh Rehana, her son Sajeeb Wazed, and her niece Tulip Siddiq are among those implicated in the ACC investigation.