UK Labour Minister Tulip Siddiq Implicated in Investigation Over Alleged £3.9 Billion Embezzlement by Her Family in Bangladesh
A UK Labour minister, Tulip Siddiq, has been implicated in an investigation concerning allegations that her family embezzled up to £3.9 billion (Tk 590 billion) from infrastructure projects in Bangladesh. Siddiq, who serves as the Treasury’s Economic Secretary and is responsible for tackling corruption in UK financial markets, is alleged to have played a role in a 2013 deal with Russia that overinflated the cost of a nuclear power plant in Bangladesh.
The allegations form part of a broader probe by Bangladesh’s Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) into Siddiq’s aunt, Sheikh Hasina, the former prime minister of Bangladesh, who was deposed in August. A source close to Siddiq dismissed the claims as “trumped-up charges,” asserting that they were politically motivated and aimed at damaging her aunt’s reputation.
Downing Street has expressed confidence in Siddiq, confirming that she will retain her position overseeing anti-corruption efforts in the UK. A spokesman for Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said Siddiq denied any involvement in the embezzlement allegations and had stepped back from any political decisions relating to Bangladesh.
The investigation was sparked by accusations from Bobby Hajjaj, a senior political opponent of Hasina. The BBC reports that Siddiq has not been contacted by the ACC as part of the ongoing investigation.
The ACC is also scrutinizing other members of Hasina’s family, including Siddiq’s mother, Sheikh Rehana Siddiq, and other senior figures from Hasina’s administration. Hasina, who ruled Bangladesh for over two decades, is accused of suppressing dissent with an iron fist, and has been linked to multiple crimes, including allegations of “crimes against humanity” related to violent incidents during political protests. She is currently wanted by Bangladesh’s International Criminal Tribunal (ICT).
