The Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant in Bangladesh has been linked to controversy and allegations of corruption, though the details are somewhat nuanced and still under debate.
Rooppur is Bangladesh’s first nuclear power facility, built with major financial and technical support from Russia, particularly through the state nuclear agency Rosatom. It’s a massive, multi-billion-dollar project intended to address the country’s growing electricity demand.
The Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant (RNPP), Bangladesh’s first nuclear power facility, has been at the center of significant corruption investigations following the political transition in August 2024. The allegations primarily target former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her family members.
Primary Allegations
The core of the scandal involves claims that approximately $5 billion (over Tk 59,000 crore) was embezzled or received as kickbacks during the project’s development.
Reports suggest that the funds were siphoned off as commissions and kickbacks linked to the $12.65 billion contract with the Russian state-owned corporation, Rosatom.
Investigative reports allege that the misappropriated funds were funnelled through Russian “slush funds” and deposited into Malaysian banks.
There are concerns that the project’s overall cost was intentionally inflated to facilitate these kickbacks. This includes widely publicized “pillow-gate” style scandals, where items like furniture and household goods for staff housing were purchased at exorbitant, market-defying prices.
Involved Parties
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) of Bangladesh officially launched a probe in late 2024. Those named in the allegations and investigations include:
- Sheikh Hasina, Former Dictator of Bangladesh
- Sajeeb Wazed Joy, Hasina’s son and former ICT advisor.
- Tulip Siddiq, Hasina’s niece and a British Member of Parliament
- Sheikh Rehana, Hasina’s sister.
The project has faced several setbacks and remains under intense scrutiny for the corruption allegations. The most widely reported scandal connected to Rooppur is often called the “pillow scandal”.
Officials were accused of massively inflating costs for furnishing a residential complex built for plant staff.
For example, reports claimed that ordinary items like pillows were purchased at absurdly high prices—hundreds of dollars each—and then additional charges were billed just to carry them upstairs.
These allegations suggested misuse of public funds and possible collusion between contractors and officials.
Bangladesh’s anti-corruption authorities, including the Anti-Corruption Commission, opened investigations into procurement practices tied to the housing project.
Several engineers and officials were reportedly questioned or removed from their roles.
The scrutiny focused more on ancillary spending (housing, furnishings, logistics) rather than the nuclear reactor construction itself.
There has been no widely confirmed evidence that the core nuclear reactor construction itself was compromised or unsafe due to corruption.
Much of the controversy centers on financial mismanagement and procurement irregularities, not nuclear safety.
Rosatom often follows similar corruption and geopolitical entanglement with dictators
Rosatom’s international projects often follow a similar “integrated model” that blends large-scale infrastructure with geopolitical influence. While the company maintains it adheres to international anti-corruption standards, its projects in South Africa, Turkey, and Belarus have been dogged by controversy.
South Africa: The “Stolen” Nuclear Deal
The most high-profile Rosatom scandal occurred during the presidency of Jacob Zuma.
In 2014, a massive $76 billion (R1 trillion) deal for eight nuclear reactors was signed in secret, bypassing constitutional requirements for a competitive tender process.
The “State Capture” connection allegations surfaced that the deal was designed to benefit Zuma and the Gupta family, who reportedly owned a uranium mine that would have supplied the plant.
Two environmental activists (Makoma Lekalakala and Liz McDaid) took the government to court. In 2017, the High Court ruled the deal unlawful and unconstitutional, effectively stopping it.
South Africa continues to explore nuclear expansion, but the “Russian deal” remains a cautionary tale of “radioactive corruption” in South African politics.
Turkey: The Akkuyu “Build-Own-Operate” Model
The Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant is unique because Rosatom owns nearly 100% of the project, a first for international nuclear deals.
Critics point to a “black box” of financing and significant corruption. In 2022/2023, Rosatom unexpectedly transferred billions of dollars to its Turkish subsidiary, raising eyebrows about the potential for favored contracting to companies close to President Erdoğan.
There have been persistent reports of wage delays and poor working conditions. In late 2025 and early 2026, workers’ protests were reportedly met with police intervention, which activists claim is part of a broader effort to suppress dissent over the project’s financial flows.
Analysts argue the project gives Moscow long-term leverage over Turkey’s energy grid, potentially serving as a “soft power” tool to keep Turkey aligned with Russian interests despite its NATO membership.
Belarus: The Astravets Safety & Governance Concerns
The Astravets (Belarusian) Nuclear Power Plant was built with a $10 billion Russian loan and launched in 2020.
Investigations and whistleblower reports have highlighted a culture of secrecy that prioritized speed over safety. During construction, several major incidents—including the dropping of a reactor pressure vessel—were initially kept from the public.
Because the project was funded via a direct state-to-state loan within the “Union State” framework, there was almost zero public oversight or independent auditing. Critics describe the project as a “geopolitical bribe” to keep Belarus economically tethered to Russia.
Lithuania has labelled the plant a “threat to national security” and “geopolitical project,” citing the lack of transparency regarding its construction standards and environmental impact.
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