The High Court on Sunday issued a rule questioning the Anti-Corruption Commission and government authorities over their inaction in investigating corruption allegations against former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, her family members, and her former defence and security adviser, Tarique Ahmed Siddique.
The allegations, involving the embezzlement of $5 billion from the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant project, were raised in a public interest litigation writ petition filed in September by聽 Bobby Hajjaj, founder and chairman of the Nationalist Democratic Movement.
The bench of Justice Fahmida Quader and Justice Mubina Asaf sought explanations from the ACC chairman and relevant government officials, asking why their inaction should not be declared illegal.
Lawyer Shahedul Azam, representing the petitioner, pointed to an article published on August 17, 2024, by the Global Defense Corp. The report accused Sheikh Hasina, her sister Sheikh Rehana, her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy, Rehana鈥檚 daughter and British lawmaker Tulip Siddique, and Tarique Ahmed Siddique of siphoning $5 billion from the nuclear power project.
The article alleged that Tulip Siddique played a crucial role in coordinating with Russian officials, enabling inflated costs for the Rooppur project.
The Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant is a joint venture between Bangladesh and Russia, primarily funded by Rosatom, Russia鈥檚 state-owned atomic energy corporation. Rosatom has committed to financing 90 per cent of the $12.65 billion total project cost.
The writ petition underscored the importance of investigating the claims, citing the project鈥檚 massive financial investment and its critical role in Bangladesh鈥檚 energy sector.
It alleged collusion with Russian officials, resulting in cost escalations and potential misuse of funds.
The High Court鈥檚 rule has drawn attention to the ACC鈥檚 perceived indifference, raising questions about its accountability in addressing high-profile corruption allegations.