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An arrest warrant has been issued for former City minister Tulip Siddiq in Bangladesh, based on new allegations claiming she unlawfully received land from her aunt, former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who was ousted from power.
Reports from Bangladeshi media indicate that this warrant was issued by a judge and includes 53 individuals associated with Hasina, Siddiq being one of them. It is noteworthy that there is no formal extradition agreement between the United Kingdom and Bangladesh.
Siddiq, the MP representing Hampstead and Highgate, has firmly denied the corruption allegations that tie her to her aunt’s former administration. She characterizes the charges as “targeted and baseless,” suggesting that they are a part of a politically motivated campaign against her.
In January, Siddiq resigned from her role as economic secretary to the Treasury. She cited concerns that her situation could become a distraction for the government and said the public discourse surrounding her property use was detrimental to governmental integrity. The properties in question were reportedly allocated to her and her family by supporters of Hasina’s regime.
An investigation overseen by Keir Starmer’s ethics adviser concluded that Siddiq had not violated any rules concerning her property dealings. Additionally, the adviser did not find evidence to indicate that Siddiq’s assets were acquired through illegitimate means. However, concerns were raised regarding the lack of comprehensive documentation, as the passage of time made it difficult to fully authenticate all related matters tied to property in the UK.
A spokesperson for the Conservative Party remarked on the seriousness of the situation, asserting that if Siddiq is indeed subject to an international arrest warrant for corruption, she should resign from her position as a Labour MP immediately. They expressed disbelief at Starmer’s willingness to possibly allow her to return to a government role, urging him to take decisive action based on the circumstances.
According to the Bangladesh Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), Siddiq is accused of acquiring a 7,200 square-foot plot in Dhaka’s diplomatic zone through connections established during the tenure of the previous administration. Allegations suggest that she persuaded her aunt to distribute several plots of land within an exclusive area reserved for diplomatic purposes to her family, including her mother Sheikh Rehana and her siblings.
Mohammad Abdul Momen, the chair of the ACC, previously explained to the BBC that the investigations are grounded in documented evidence and advised that Siddiq should return to Bangladesh to contest these accusations.
In a statement released through her legal representatives, Siddiq responded to the allegations, insisting that they are entirely unfounded. Her representatives claimed that the ACC has made various accusations to the media without any formal communication directed at Bridget from the commission. They maintained that Siddiq is unaware of any hearings relating to her case in Dhaka and argued that there are no grounds for charges or for the issuance of an arrest warrant.
In addition to the charges associated with the land deals, Siddiq is implicated in two other inquiries, which she denies, one of which focuses on alleged financial misconduct in relation to a nuclear agreement connected to Hasina.
Siddiq has been approached for her comments regarding these matters.
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