Russian Ambassador Alexander Mantytskiy on Sunday categorically ruled out the media reports that said former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy, and her niece Tulip "embezzled $5 billion" from the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant project.
“Frankly speaking, it is a rumour first of all, and false rumour. You should understand. Our company Rosatom already gave statement (regarding this),” he told reporters emerging from holding a meeting with Finance Adviser Dr Saleh Uddin Ahmed at the Economic Relations Divisions (ERD) office.
The ambassador questioned how it could be done when the construction is still going on.
“Imagine five billion dollars, it’s a big amount; how can it be given to somebody when the construction is going on? Do you think we are so crazy to give five billion dollars to somebody?” he said.
The Russian Ambassador said that the rumour was generated just before the national elections in January.