Five people have died at the Rosatom construction site in Bangladesh in just 10 days. The cause of the tragedy is still unknown and is under investigation. The incident is being actively discussed on social media, and the Russian state agency is being blamed for it.
Some people are saying that radiation may have been involved.
What is the topic of discussion?
Between January 28 and February 6, 2022, five Russians died one by one at the construction site of the Rooppur nuclear power plant in Bangladesh. Autopsies showed no signs of foul play, and the Ishwardi police are continuing their investigation.
The first death occurred on January 28, when 48-year-old Barchenko passed away while being treated at a medical centre. His 40-year-old colleague Shakirov died in his sleep on February 2. Mechanical engineer Shchukin, aged 48, died in the same hospital on February 5, reportedly after a sudden illness. On the same day, 59-year-old Tolmasov, an employee of the company, was found dead near an apartment of the Green City residential complex, intended for the plant's employees. On February 6, Vorotnikov, a 45-year-old employee of NIKIMT-Atomstroy, died in the same building.
The Ishvardi police are investigating the mysterious deaths of the Russians. A law enforcement representative stated that one of the victims had a heart disease, while the second victim was known to have used drugs. Autopsies showed no signs of foul play, and the investigation is ongoing.
Rosatom has expressed condolences to the victims' relatives and stated that it is actively cooperating with the investigation.
Deadly NPP
There have been previous deaths at Rosatom's nuclear power plant construction sites, including five deaths during the construction of the BelNPP in Belarus. Most of the deaths were due to the negligence of the employees themselves. The cause of the Bangladesh deaths is still unknown. According to the Russian embassy in Dhaka, the Russians' deaths were not violent and were not work-related injuries.
Statement from Rosatom's press service to journalists:
Speculation and versions about the causes of death have appeared on social media and in the news regarding these tragedies. However, it will only be possible to discuss them once the investigation is concluded. We are currently supporting and cooperating with the investigative team to determine the cause of each death.
The topic of the Russians who died at the nuclear power plant construction site is actively discussed on social media. Rosatom is being blamed for their deaths. Some suggest that employees of the subcontractor company may have been exposed to radiation, but this version does not seem credible as the construction of the nuclear power units has not been completed, and therefore there was no loading of nuclear fuel into the reactors.
Another person believes the reason for the deaths was a dispute with local residents. In November 2021, it was reported that Russian engineers were badly beaten by workers at a nuclear power plant construction site in Bangladesh, supposedly due to payment delays. Local residents, armed with metal pipes and fittings, attacked the Russians. This isn't the first time they've experienced delays; a similar situation happened in April of the same year. Perhaps this time it was a financial conflict. However, the Russian embassy insists that all five employees did not die violently.
But the fact remains that five Russians died at the nuclear power plant construction site under unknown circumstances.
Another nuclear power plant that is considered "free".
Let's now discuss the Rooppur NPP itself. In November 2011, Bangladesh and Russia agreed to construct the first nuclear power plant, with Rosatom being responsible for the construction. The site for the future nuclear power plant was chosen on the eastern bank of the Ganges River, approximately 160 kilometers from the capital of Bangladesh, Dhaka.
In 2017, the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority (BAERA) granted a license for the station's construction. At that time, the construction of Rooppur officially commenced, with the nuclear power plant's cost estimated at $2 billion. Russia provided a $500 million state loan to the country.
Rosatom has a habit of building nuclear power plants on credit. The state corporation constructed the Akkuyu NPP in Turkey for $22 billion (also done "on credit"), the Bushehr facility in Iran for $30 billion (also on credit), and the Paks nuclear power plant in Hungary for €10 billion (with a 30-year loan). In Egypt, four power units of the Ed-Dabaa nuclear power plant will be constructed on credit ($25 billion). Russia also covered the Hanhikivi nuclear power plant in Finland for about €7 billion. Belarus received $10 billion on loan, and Iraq received $40 billion.
Kyrgyzstan can also construct low-capacity nuclear power plants on credit. Belarus and Turkey are interested in additional nuclear power plants. Essentially, the foreign projects of the state corporation are funded by the Russian budget.
Now about the conflict with workers in Bangladesh. Wages in the country are much lower, and it's presumed that the local workers were paid less than the Russian engineers, and sometimes not at all. The station is being constructed on credit, so it's not surprising that such behavior from the "atomic scientists" could cause aggression from local residents. It's concerning where the saved money ended up. It certainly wasn't worth the health of the injured employees, especially the lives of the deceased Russians.
