Bangladeshi authorities have issued an arrest warrant for British MP Tulip Siddiq, escalating a high-profile corruption investigation tied to her aunt, former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
The warrant, issued by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), names Siddiq alongside over 50 others accused of benefiting from illicit land allocations and inflated infrastructure deals during Hasina’s administration. Siddiq, the Labour MP for Hampstead and Highgate and former Economic Secretary to the Treasury, resigned in January after the allegations surfaced.
The case stems from claims by political opponent Bobby Hajjaj, who alleges Siddiq played a role in brokering a 2013 deal with Russia for a nuclear power plant, resulting in significant financial irregularities. Siddiq’s lawyers, Stephenson Harwood, dismissed the accusations as “entirely false” and “politically motivated,” noting that she has not been contacted by the ACC or informed of any formal charges.
“There is absolutely no truth in any allegation that she received a plot of land or influenced land allocations in Bangladesh,” the legal team said. They also emphasized that no evidence has been presented to support the claims.
In the UK, Bangladesh is classified as a 2B extradition country, meaning any extradition request would require compelling evidence and judicial review.
Siddiq had voluntarily referred herself to the Prime Minister’s ethics adviser, Sir Laurie Magnus, who found no impropriety but cautioned her on the reputational risks of her familial ties. Meanwhile, ACC chairman Mohammad Abdul Momen defended the investigation, insisting it is grounded in documented evidence and not politically driven.
He urged Siddiq to return to Bangladesh and face the charges, stating, “Tulip Siddiq must not shy away from court proceedings.”
The case has sparked political debate in both countries, raising questions about international legal cooperation, due process, and the role of diaspora politicians amid shifting political landscapes.
