Russian ECA decries fake news re Bangladesh nuclear power plant embezzlement

(Business Post, Dhaka, 11 September 2024) Russia has said those who produce and spread "fake news" about alleged embezzlement at Bangladesh's Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant deliberately attempt to “discredit” this ambitious project and to “undermine” beneficial relations between Moscow and Dhaka. As of September 3, 2024, approximately US$7.8 billion out of US$11.9 billion provided by Russia to Bangladesh under state export credits for the implementation of the Rooppur NPP project, has been utilised. This amount includes transactions under two separate agreements: US$491.3 million under the first agreement dated January 15, 2013 (this credit amounted up to US$500 million, and its utilization period expired in 2017), and US$7.3 billion under the second agreement dated July 26, 2016. The full amount of the second export credit is US$11.38 billion out of which 64% has been used, and its utilisation period expires on December 31, 2024. [According to an 18 August 2024 BanglaNews article, ousted Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy and niece Tulip Siddiq embezzled US$5 billion from the overpriced US$12.65 billion Rooppur nuclear power plant through Malaysian banks, according to a report by Global Defense Corporation.