logo
Bangladeshi anti-corruption officials give evidence against UK MP Tulip Siddiq

Bangladeshi anti-corruption officials give evidence against UK MP Tulip Siddiq

Rhyl Journal4 days ago
Ms Siddiq, who is Ms Hasina's niece, resigned from her post as an anti-corruption minister in Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's government in January after reports that she lived in London properties linked to her aunt and was named in an anti-corruption investigation in Bangladesh.
She is being tried together with her mother, Sheikh Rehana, brother, Radwan Mujib, and sister, Azmina.
Ms Siddiq has been charged with facilitating their receipt of state land in a township project near the capital, Dhaka.
The four were indicted earlier and asked to appear in court, but the prosecution said they absconded and would be tried in absentia.
The trial at the Dhaka Special Judge Court-4 formally began on Wednesday, hearing evidence from officials from the country's Anti-Corruption Commission.
The court had heard from two officials and a third was expected to testify later in the day, Muhammad Tariqul Islam, a public prosecutor, said.
Ms Siddiq's lawyers had previously called the charges baseless and politically motivated.
Separately, the anti-corruption investigation has also alleged that Ms Siddiq's family was involved in brokering a 2013 deal with Russia for a nuclear power plant in Bangladesh in which large sums of money were said to have been embezzled.
The Labour MP represents the north London district of Hampstead and Highgate and served as economic secretary to the Treasury — the minister responsible for tackling financial corruption.
Ms Hasina was ousted after a 15-year rule in a student-led mass uprising in August last year. She fled to India and has been in exile ever since.
Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus took over as interim leader and vowed to try the former prime minister.
Hundreds of protesters were killed during the uprising and Ms Hasina now faces charges, including crimes against humanity.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Former Labour leader Neil Kinnock calls for Keir Starmer to scrap two-child benefit limit - and suggests 'Robin Hood' wealth tax to fund it
Former Labour leader Neil Kinnock calls for Keir Starmer to scrap two-child benefit limit - and suggests 'Robin Hood' wealth tax to fund it

Daily Mail​

time22 minutes ago

  • Daily Mail​

Former Labour leader Neil Kinnock calls for Keir Starmer to scrap two-child benefit limit - and suggests 'Robin Hood' wealth tax to fund it

Labour must scrap the two-child cap on benefits to lift children out of poverty, former party leader Neil Kinnock has said as he called for a 'Robin Hood' wealth tax. Lord Kinnock claimed rising levels of poverty 'would make Charles Dickens furious' and claimed the Tories had undone hard work that was begun by Gordon Brown. The 83-year-old, who led Labour in opposition from 1983 to 1992, is the latest senior party figure to urge the current Government to end the two-child limit on benefits. The two-child benefit limit was brought in by the Conservatives in 2017 and restricts child tax credit and universal credit (UC) to the first two children in most households. But organisations working in the sector argue that an estimated 350,000 children would be lifted out of poverty immediately at a cost of £2billion if it was scrapped. Speaking to the Sunday Mirror, Lord Kinnock acknowledged the Government may not be able to scrap the two-child cap 'all at once'. He added: 'But I really want them to move in that direction because the figures are that if that did occur it would mean that about 600,000 kids fewer are in poverty.' Lord Kinnock suggested such a move could be funded by a wealth tax on the 'top 1 per cent', saying: 'I know it's the economics of Robin Hood, but I don't think there is anything terribly bad about that.' He claimed that over the decade and a half the Conservatives were in power, child poverty gradually rose. The Labour peer told the newspaper: 'In 15 years, starting from a position where beneficial change was taking place, we've got to the place that would make Charles Dickens furious. 'It's been allowed to happen because the kids are voiceless and their parents feel powerless. I defy anybody to see a child in need and not want to help.' The two-child limit has been long-criticised by Labour backbenchers as a driver of child poverty. Former Labour prime minister Mr Brown recently said ending the two-child limit, as well as the benefit cap, would be among the most effective ways of reducing child poverty. Chancellor Rachel Reeves has left the door open to a rise in gambling taxes after Mr Brown urged her to raise levies to cover the cost of lifting the two-child cap. The Institute for Public Policy Research believes reforms to gambling levies could generate the £3.2billion needed to scrap the two-child limit and benefit cap. The think tank's research said axing the policies could lift half a million children out of poverty and 'reverse years of rising hardship for low-income families'. Ministers are expected to set out plans to tackle child poverty this autumn, and campaign groups have said it must contain a commitment to abandon the two-child limit. Economists have warned tax rises in the autumn are likely needed to plug a hole in the public finances left by poor economic figures and U-turns on welfare, prompting speculation about which areas Ms Reeves might target. There were more than 1.6million children living in households in England, Wales and Scotland affected by the two-child benefit limit in April, according to figures published by the Department for Work and Pensions last month. Work and pensions minister Alison McGovern told the Commons on July 15 that the Child Poverty Task Force will look at 'all the levers across incomes, costs, debt and local support that we can pull to prevent poverty, including social security reform'. But she added at the time that the Government will not commit to lifting the two-child benefit cap until it is clear how it will be paid for. The Government's child poverty strategy had been due to be published in spring, but was subsequently delayed until autumn to align with the Budget. The Daily Mail has contacted the Department for Work and Pensions for comment.

Donald Trump branded a ‘baby with a hand grenade in shop specialising in glass'
Donald Trump branded a ‘baby with a hand grenade in shop specialising in glass'

Daily Mirror

timean hour ago

  • Daily Mirror

Donald Trump branded a ‘baby with a hand grenade in shop specialising in glass'

The unflattering description of the US President from Neil Kinnock came as the ex-Labour leader hit out at the Mr Trump's 'completely inexcusable' global tariff policy. Donald Trump has been branded a "baby with a hand grenade in a shop specialising in crockery and glass". ‌ The unflattering description of the US President from Neil Kinnock came as the ex-Labour leader hit out at the Mr Trump's "completely inexcusable" global tariff policy. ‌ He warned it will inflict "terrible damage" on world trade and the American public. But he praised Keir Starmer, who has negotiated a deal with the US, for "playing a very, very difficult hand, extremely well" in relations with the erratic American President. ‌ Lord Kinnock said: "It's a recognition of where Britain really is in the modern world. The Prime Minister knows when he's dealing with a capricious, immature, ultimately powerful man, then he's not dealing with anything remotely normal in international relations. "He knows Donald Trump could on a tantrum and inflict terrible damage on our country. If he can keep Trump near stability and consistency he's done very well." It comes as Mr Trump prepares to jet to the UK on Air Force Once for an "unprecedented" second state visit in September. He was handed the invitation from King Charles during his first face-to-face meeting with Mr Starmer in the Oval Office back in February. ‌ Asked whether the PM was right to extend the invitation, Lord Kinnock told The Mirror: "We use whatever means we have." Recalling a tip from his late wife, Glenys Kinnock, he said: "I remember I had broken the radiator belt in my mini, and Glenys came up with a brilliant idea of using her tights, which I did, and it got us home. ‌ "The tights, I could tie them tight enough to replicate the belt. And got me home. International politics is a bit like that with Donald Trump around. "I mean he's a baby with a hand grenade in a shop specialising in crockery and glass." He added: "He's got to be dealt with in the same way that the brave people who defuse bombs do it. Quite extraordinary in their courage. Keir doesn't have to show quite the level of bravery, but he's got to be just as delicate with his spanner and his screwdriver."

Thousands of small boat arrivals since new migrant deal with France
Thousands of small boat arrivals since new migrant deal with France

BBC News

timean hour ago

  • BBC News

Thousands of small boat arrivals since new migrant deal with France

More than 2,500 migrants have crossed the Channel in small boats in the eleven days since the new "one in, one out" agreement with France took effect, figures from the Home Office plan proposes that for each migrant the UK returns to France, another person with a strong case for asylum in Britain will be allowed to 28,000 people have reached the UK in small boats so far this year and more than 50,000 have crossed since Labour came into power in July a so-called mega dinghy capable of holding more than 100 people was reportedly sighted in the Channel this week, amid concerns that people smugglers could be using larger boats to illegally transport people. Violent Channel smuggling gang's French and UK network exposed by undercover BBC investigationBBC tracks down smuggler behind Channel crossing which killed Sara, 7 Home Office officials are trying to establish whether the presence of the mega dinghy was a one-off, or if it indicates gangs have started to use bigger boats. Rob Lawrie, a volunteer aid worker told the BBC's Today Programme on Friday smugglers estimate they can send up to 150 people on a boat."That's a lot more people, overcrowding an extra large boat," he said. "We've already had reports of children getting crushed, not only in the rush but within the dinghy itself."He added it was unclear how many people were falling overboard during tend to increase in the summer months when the weather is calm in the Channel. Last August, more than 4,000 people made the numbers can vary depending on factors including the supply of boat parts and how actively the police are patrolling the beaches in northern France, to try to prevent boats from launching. The "one in, one out" pilot scheme was set up as part of a deal announced by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron during his state visit to the UK in first group of people to arrive under the scheme were detained in Dover earlier this month. Removals to France have yet to take place and could take up to three Labour came to power it promised to smash the gangs organising the crossings, but warned that it would not be quick or easy to do. Ministers are now under pressure to deliver results, though the deterrent effect of the returns deal may not become clear until deportations begin in earnest and increase in about the first detentions, Sir Keir said: "If you break the law to enter this country, you will face being sent back. When I say I will stop at nothing to secure our borders, I mean it."Set to last 11 months, the project will see the UK accepting an equal number of asylum seekers who have not tried to cross and can pass security and eligibility home secretary Chris Philp criticised the government's new deal as "having no deterrent effect whatsoever".The National Crime Agency said it has had some success in disrupting the business model of the week, 20 inflatable boats believed to be destined for the Channel were seized from a lorry in Bulgaria - the second such discovery in less than three weeks. The government says it's an illustration of the need for international cooperation to tackle illegal immigration. Afghans were the top nationality arriving by small boat in the year to March 2025, according to Home Office made up the second largest group, followed by people from Iran, Vietnam and five nationalities accounted for 61% of all 2024, almost one third of the 108,000 people who claimed asylum in the UK arrived on a small Home Office can remove people with no legal right to stay in the UK, or refuse to let them enter. But the 1951 Refugee Convention establishes the right to claim asylum in a foreign state if an applicant can prove they face a serious threat to life or freedom in their country of origin.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store