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Labour MP Tulip Siddiq Faces Arrest Warrant from Bangladesh

Tulip Siddiq, a Labour MP and former minister, has publicly denounced the issuance of an arrest warrant against her by Bangladeshi authorities, claiming it is part of a politically motivated smear campaign. The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) of Bangladesh has been investigating allegations that Siddiq unlawfully received land, amidst a broader inquiry into the regime of her aunt, Sheikh Hasina, who was ousted as prime minister in August.

Siddiq, who represents Hampstead and Highgate and resigned as economic secretary to the Treasury in January, was listed in the arrest warrant along with over 50 other individuals over the weekend. Reacting to the arrest warrant, she criticized the Bangladeshi authorities, asserting that they are conducting a “trial by media.” She emphasized, “There is no evidence that I’ve done anything wrong,” and condemned the process as an effort to harass her politically.

Extradition requests allow one nation to seek the transfer of a suspect from another country to stand trial, provided there is an accompanying arrest warrant. In the case of Bangladesh, the UK categorizes it as a 2B extradition country, which necessitates the presentation of clear evidence before any extradition is considered by ministers and judges.

A representative for Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has refrained from commenting on specific cases, maintaining a neutral stance on the matter. Meanwhile, Siddiq’s legal team has articulated that the ACC has made several unverified allegations against her through media outlets over the past few months. In their statement, Siddiq’s lawyers of Stephenson Harwood asserted, “The allegations are completely false and have been addressed in writing by Ms. Siddiq’s lawyers.”

The ACC’s ongoing investigation is also examining claims that Sheikh Hasina and her family may have embezzled around £3.9 billion from infrastructure funds in Bangladesh. These serious allegations originated from complaints lodged by political adversary Bobby Hajjaj, who has implicated Siddiq in purported dealings with Russia in 2013, which allegedly inflated costs related to a nuclear power plant project.

ACC chairman Mohammad Abdul Momen has reiterated to the media that the allegations against Siddiq are neither baseless nor targeted, asserting that their investigation relies on substantial documentary evidence of corruption. He encouraged Siddiq to face the legal proceedings in Bangladesh and to bring adequate legal support to defend herself.

Siddiq’s resignation from her ministerial position came earlier this year during an inquiry led by the prime minister’s ethics adviser, Sir Laurie Magnus. Magnus’s investigation ultimately found no evidence of wrongdoing but commented on the need for Siddiq to be more vigilant regarding her potential reputational risks, particularly given her familial ties to the current leader of the Awami League party in Bangladesh.

Source
www.bbc.com