Bangladesh launches $5bn graft probe into Hasina’s family

DHAKA: Bangladesh has launched a probe into the alleged $5 billion embezzlement connected to a Russian-backed nuclear power plant by ousted leader Sheikh Hasina and her family, the anti-corruption commission said on Monday.

Along with Hasina, the now-former prime minster who fled to India after being toppled by a revolution in August, those subject to the inquiry include her son, Sajeeb Wazed Joy, and niece, Tulip Siddiq, a British lawmaker and government minister.

The allegations were raised by a writ seeking an investigation filed in the high court by Hasina´s political opponent, Bobby Hajjaj, chairman of the Nationalist Democratic Movement party.

“We seek justice through our court”, Hajjaj told AFP on Monday.Key allegations are connected to the funding of the $12.65 billion Rooppur nuclear plant, the South Asian country´s first, which is bankrolled by Moscow with a 90 percent loan.

A statement on Monday from the commission said it had launched an inquiry into allegations that Hasina and family members had “embezzled $5 billion” from the Rooppur plant via “various offshore bank accounts in Malaysia”.

It said its investigations were examining “questionable procurement practices related to the overpriced construction” of the plant.“The claims of kickbacks, mismanagement, money laundering, and potential abuse of power raise significant concerns about the integrity of the project and the use of public funds”, the commission said.