Former City minister Tulip Siddiq has requested a meeting with the leader of Bangladesh during his upcoming visit to London to address a “misunderstanding” following corruption allegations by his administration, which led to her resignation from the UK government. Siddiq, whose aunt Sheikh Hasina was recently tried in absentia for crimes against humanity during her tenure as prime minister, faces accusations from Dhaka authorities of benefiting from the previous regime. The allegations include claims that Siddiq or her mother received substantial plots of land through “abuse of power and influence.” Siddiq denies these claims, which her lawyers assert are “politically motivated” and unfounded, and states that she has not been contacted by the authorities regarding any of the allegations.
Despite being cleared of wrongdoing by the adviser on ministerial standards, Siddiq resigned as economic secretary to the Treasury and City minister to avoid distraction for Keir Starmer’s government. In a letter to Muhammad Yunus, the interim leader of the Bangladeshi government, Siddiq seeks to discuss the ongoing controversy during his London visit, hoping to clear up misunderstandings perpetuated by Dhaka’s anti-corruption committee. Siddiq emphasizes her UK citizenship and lack of property or business interests in Bangladesh, stating her commitment to her constituents and country while criticizing the lack of engagement from the ACC with her legal team.
The allegations against Siddiq are part of a broader investigation into embezzlement accusations against Sheikh Hasina and her family, led by political opponent Bobby Hajjaj. Siddiq claims to be the target of a politically motivated smear campaign by her aunt’s opponents. Despite reports of an arrest warrant issued in Bangladesh, Siddiq claims ignorance and points to the UK’s extradition requirements as necessitating evidence from Bangladesh before any arrest decisions are made. The National Crime Agency has recently frozen luxury London properties worth nearly £90m linked to Siddiq’s aunt, adding another layer to the controversy.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jun/08/tulip-siddiq-requests-meeting-with-bangladeshi-leader-over-corruption-allegation
