File photo of Pakistan Air Force (PAF) JF-17 Thunder fighter jet.
| Photo Credit: Reuters

A view of the Rooppur nuclear powerplant in Bangladesh. File photo

Russian nuclear major Rosatom on Tuesday (December 24, 2024) said the Bangladesh anti-graft commission’s remarks are “an attempt to discredit” the Rooppur nuclear power project. In a statement issued to the media, Rosatom reiterated that the $2.65 billion Rooppur project is transparent and that it is ready to defend the case in a court of law.

“Rosatom is committed to a policy of openness and the principle of combating corruption in all its projects and maintains a transparent procurement system. External audits regularly confirm the openness of the business processes of the project. Rosatom State Corporation is ready to defend its interests and reputation in court,” Rosatom said in a statement sent to The Hindu.

The statement from Rosatom came a day after the Anti-Corruption Commission of Bangladesh came out with a statement alleging that deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her family members including her niece the UK MP Tulip Siddiq laundered around $900 million to offshore outfits in Malaysia. The commission cited an internal investigative report and stated that it has discovered around $5 billion “irregularities” in the Rooppur nuclear power project that has been under the works since 2011.

Rosatom described the anti-corruption outfit of Bangladesh as “provocative” and said, “We consider false statements in the media as an attempt to discredit the Rooppur NPP project, which is being implemented to solve the country’s energy supply problems and is aimed at improving the well-being of the people of Bangladesh.”

The Hindu had reported earlier, that Tulip Siddiq who is a Labour MP in the United Kingdom and has been facing scrutiny in the UK since the fall of the government of her aunt Sheikh Hasina, was involved in an elaborate scheme to launder money that involved her paternal uncle Tarique Ahmed Siddique. Tulip Siddiq and her family members are stakeholders in a company named Prochchaya which along with another entity Destinty Group had laundered $900 million, the Anti-Corruption Commission in Bangladesh had alleged.

People take part in a protest march demanding protections for Hindus and other minority groups after the expulsion of premier Sheikh Hasina, in Dhaka. File photo
| Photo Credit: AFP

37-year-old Azharul, accused in the Hindu idols attacks case in Bangladesh Mymensigh district, will be produced before court on Saturday, December 21, 2023, police official said.

Police in Bangladesh arrested one person for vandalising Hindu idols in the Shakuair area on Saturday (December 21, 2024) morning, officials said.

“We have arrested one person early today for vandalising Hindu idols in the Shakuair area,” said Abul Khair, Officer in Charge (OC) of Haluaghat Police Station under northern Mymensigh district.

Also read: Foreign Secretary Misri conveys India’s ‘concerns’ about security of minority communities in Bangladesh 

Speaking to ANI over the phone, Khair informed that the accused is a 37-year-old male, named Azharul. He will be produced in court today. “The arrested person’s name is Azharul (37). We will produce him to the court today,” he told ANI.

Also read: Durga puja in Bangladesh is a test of Yunus’ pledge to protect Hindus

According to the police, the miscreants vandalised the heads of two idols of an under-construction temple in the Shakuair area. “Miscreants on Thursday night broke the heads of two idols under construction at a temple in the Shakuair area,” OC said, without elaborating.

Meanwhile, MoS External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha, relating to violence in Bangladesh, informed that the 2, 200 cases of violence against Hindus and other minorities in Bangladesh till October of this year. “2,200 cases of violence against Hindus and other minorities in Bangladesh were reported till 8th December 2024 and 112 cases in Pakistan were reported till October 2024,” he replied.

He added that the Government of India has taken “serious” note of these incidents and expressed its concern to the Bangladesh government.

“Government has taken serious note of these incidents and shared its concerns with the Government of Bangladesh. India expects that the Government of Bangladesh will take all necessary measures to ensure the safety and welfare of Hindus and other minorities,” he stated.

Notably, Bangladesh is currently facing a tumultuous period following a student-led movement that led to the ousting of Former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The movement was sparked by a series of violent incidents, including attacks on Hindus and other minorities, as well as the demolition of Hindu temples.

The situation in Bangladesh began to escalate in June 2024, when students from various universities in Dhaka united to demand reforms to the country’s quota system for government jobs led to the ouster of Former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

fter weeks of protests and violence that led to over 600 deaths. Hasina fled to India, and an interim government led by Yunus took charge.Following this, Chinmoy Krishna Das, also a former priest of ISKCON, was arrested by police from Dhaka Airport on November 25 on a charge of sedition in Bangladesh, sparking protests worldwide.Bangladesh also reported several attacks on Hindus and other minorities after Muhammad Yunus took charge of the interim government.