The High Court has ordered a two-month investigation into serious allegations of irregularities, corruption, fraud, and nepotism in recruitment at the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant in Ishwardi, Pabna.

The bench comprising Justice Fatema Anwar and Justice Ahmed Sohel directed the formation of a high-level probe committee, to be headed by the Secretary of the Ministry of Science and Technology. The committee has been instructed to submit its report within two months, petitioner’s lawyer Masud Ahmed Saeed confirmed on Monday (February 24).

The order followed a writ petition seeking a judicial directive to investigate allegations of large-scale recruitment irregularities at the nuclear power plant.

The petition was filed attaching a newspaper report that highlighted alleged recruitment fraud under the headline: “Top posts for hefty bribes, permanent jobs with fake certificates.”

According to the report, the Rooppur project — considered the most expensive and strategically sensitive project in the country’s history — allegedly saw appointments made in exchange for large bribes, despite the requirement for highly skilled and competent personnel.

The report further alleged that individuals secured permanent positions using fake academic certificates and forged experience documents.

Serious accusations were also raised against Nuclear Power Plant Company Bangladesh Limited (NPCBL), the state-owned company formed to oversee the long-term operation, maintenance, and security of the project.

Between 2017 and 2024, NPCBL reportedly recruited more than 1,800 personnel through several recruitment circulars. Of them, nearly 1,400 were sent for training at Russia’s Rosatom Technical Academy.

However, the report claimed that recruitment processes conducted in 2019 and 2023 were marred by fake certificates, forged documents, bribery, and nepotism.

The High Court’s directive now mandates an official inquiry into these allegations.