Tulip Siddiq ‘used fake signature to transfer flat to sister'
Former Labour minister Tulip Siddiq allegedly transferred a flat to her sister using a document with a forged signature, Bangladesh's anti-corruption authorities have claimed.
Investigators at the country's Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) also allege that Ms Siddiq – the niece of ousted Bangladeshi dictator Sheikh Hasina – illegally acquired the flat in Dhaka's Gulshan area.
The claim is part of a wider investigation into the alleged unlawful allocation of state-owned land to former prime minister Hasina, her children, and close relatives.
Investigators claim Ms Siddiq made the transfer to her sister, Azmina Siddiq Ruponti, to become eligible for a 10-katha (7,260 sq feet) plot in the Purbachal New Town Project, which she later obtained. Under Bangladesh's Allotment of Land Rules, applicants for the scheme must not own any residential property or land in Dhaka.
Investigators also allege that she hid the property from her income tax records from 2015 onwards.
The Heba document – an Islamic legal instrument for gifting property – listed Ms Siddiq as the donor and Ms Ruponti as the recipient. It states Ms Siddiq willingly transferred full ownership, title, and parking space of the flat on the second floor of a building in Gulshan Residential Model Town to her sister in June 2015.
However, Supreme Court lawyer Gazi Sirazul Islam, whose name appeared as the notary on the document, denied any involvement. 'I never notarised the document. The signatures on the deed don't match with mine and I don't know Tulip or her sister Azmina personally,' Islam told local media.
The ownership of the flat made Ms Siddiq's sister also ineligible for a Purbachal plot, said ACC chairman Dr Mohammad Abdul Momen.
'To circumvent regulations, Ruponti allegedly took possession of the Gulshan flat without formally assuming ownership, ensuring that her plot allotment remained undisputed,' he said.
The ACC, which has powers to prosecute as well as investigate corruption cases, will now present its charges against Ms Siddiq to the court, whose approval is required before the case proceeds to prosecution – a step largely seen as a mere formality.
The ACC alleges that 60 katha (43,560 sq feet) of government land in the Purbachal New Town project – a large residential development on Dhaka's outskirts – was illegally allocated to Hasina and her family.
The ACC has launched a number of investigations into Hasina, including a number where Ms Siddiq has been named.
The most serious case accuses Hasina and other family members including Ms Siddiq of being involved in the £4 billion embezzlement of funds from a nuclear power plant deal with Russia.
'Full extent of misconduct' to come
'This is merely a glimpse of the larger picture,' Dr Momen said. 'The ongoing investigations are expected to reveal the full extent of financial misconduct tied to the former prime minister and her close relatives.
'Siddiq should have been ineligible for a plot under the land allocation scheme due to her ownership of a flat in Gulshan. However, she and her family carried out the notary fraud to conceal the property's true ownership to secure the prime land.'
Ms Siddiq, whose short-lived position as Treasury minister had included combating corruption, had referred herself in January after weeks of questions over her use of properties in London linked to her aunt's political party.
Hasina, 77, who had been the longest-serving prime minister of Bangladesh, is now in India, having been ousted last August following her brutal response to protesters.
During her tenure, it was alleged that opponents were attacked, arrested and secretly imprisoned as the regime carried out extrajudicial killings.
A spokesman for Ms Siddiq said: 'Absolutely no evidence has been presented for these allegations. Tulip Siddiq has not been contacted on these matters and totally denies the claims.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Sky News
23 minutes ago
- Sky News
Ballymena riots: It is hard to see where the violence will end - and it could go on for weeks
The ugly, violent side of this Northern Ireland town was on full display once again last night. Angry mobs went on a rampage through the streets of Ballymena for a second evening as riot police from across this country were drafted in to push back against an escalating ambush. Hours of blaring sirens were punctured by the relentless sound of bricks and petrol bombs landing on police vehicles. The main roads became a war zone with fires in the middle of the carriageway, cars ablaze and the crunch of broken glass at our feet as we walked the streets. Masked and hooded young men were blasted with the water cannon as tensions boiled over in a strained, fragile community. This has been rumbling for days and began when a vigil, held for a girl who was the victim of an alleged sex attack was, according to police, hijacked by anti-immigration mobs. Authorities say "racist thugs" used the incident to plot their attacks on foreign people living locally. One family with three children were said to have hidden in their attic on Monday night as yobs ransacked their home. Another man told me how he had to drag his 84-year-old mum from her home of 40 years "kicking and screaming" as it was simply not safe anymore. "I've never seen anything like this," he said. On Tuesday, many displayed posters on their windows in a desperate bid to ensure their house did not become a target. Others draped union jack flags on full display. "British residents," one piece of paper stated. There is a feeling among the crowds here in Ballymena that the police branding them racists has escalated this row further. In a horrifying twist, we got word in the middle of the night that another house had been firebombed. When we arrived at the scene, it was a charred shell. The property was completely gutted. Neighbours described how several hundred "protesters" had gathered outside before hounding the foreign occupants out. One woman was pacing up and down, crying in distress at what happened. Another man, who lived a few doors, down hinted that this community had "had enough" of "people moving in". He lambasted the media and refused to engage any further. As I drove out of Ballymena at 1.30am I witnessed other families dragging suitcases full of their belongings through the streets. They were flanked by riot police, armed with shields, who helped them to safety in a late-night escape. 1:40 It is hard to see where this ends. The talk here is that this unrest is only just beginning. It could go on for weeks - and already there are questions about the pressure that will pile on police who will be desperate to de-escalate this mess.
Wales Online
28 minutes ago
- Wales Online
Cheap bus fares to cheap housing - what is in Rachel Reeves spending review
Cheap bus fares to cheap housing - what is in Rachel Reeves spending review Chancellor Rachel Reeves is announcing billions of pounds for schools, the NHS, defence and nuclear power - as well as public transport changes Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves Rachel Reeves will unveil her spending review on Wednesday, arguing that her priorities are 'the priorities of working people'. The Chancellor is expected to focus on 'Britain's renewal' as she sets out her spending plans for the coming years, with big increases for the NHS, defence and schools. Arguing that the Government is 'renewing Britain', she will acknowledge that 'too many people in too many parts of the country are yet to feel it'. She will say: 'This Government's task – my task – and the purpose of this spending review is to change that, to ensure that renewal is felt in people's everyday lives, their jobs, their communities.' Among the main announcements is expected to be a £30 billion increase in NHS funding, a rise of around 2.8% in real terms, along with an extra £4.5 billion for schools and a rise in defence spending to 2.5% of GDP. But Wednesday could present a tough prospect for other government as the Chancellor seeks to balance Labour's commitments on spending with her fiscal rules. The Institute for Fiscal Studies has already warned that any increase in NHS funding above 2.5% is likely to mean real-terms cuts for other departments, or further tax rises to come in the budget this autumn. This could mean a budgetary squeeze for areas such as local government, the justice system and the Home Office, despite reports that policing would receive an above-inflation settlement. The Chancellor has already insisted that her fiscal rules remain in place, along with Labour's manifesto commitment not to increase income tax, national insurance or VAT. She will say on Wednesday: 'I have made my choices. In place of chaos, I choose stability. In place of decline, I choose investment. In place of retreat, I choose national renewal. These are my choices. These are this Government's choices. These are the British people's choices.' Article continues below Other announcements expected on Wednesday include £39 billion for social and affordable housing over the next decade as the Government aims to meet its target of building 1.5 million new homes by the next election. The Treasury said this would see annual investment in affordable housing rise to £4 billion by 2029/30, almost double the average of £2.3 billion between 2021 and 2026. The additional spending has been welcomed by homelessness charities, with Crisis calling it 'a determined political signal that housing really matters' and Shelter describing the move as 'a watershed moment in tackling the housing emergency'. The Chancellor has also already announced some £15.6 billion of spending on public transport in England's city regions, and £16.7 billion for nuclear power projects, the bulk of which will fund the new Sizewell C plant in Suffolk. There is also expected to be an extension of the £3 bus fare cap until March 2027 and an extra £445 million for upgrading Welsh railways. But one of the big losers from the spending review could be London, which is not expected to receive funding for any significant infrastructure projects or powers to introduce a tourist levy – both key requests from Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan. The full details will be revealed in the Commons on Wednesday, but several announcements have already been made. They include: – £15.6 billion for public transport projects in England's city regions; – £16.7 billion for nuclear power projects, including £14.2 billion for the new Sizewell C power plant in Suffolk; – £39 billion over the next 10 years to build affordable and social housing; – An extension of the £3 bus fare cap until March 2027; – £445 million for upgrades to Welsh railways. The Chancellor is also expected to announce changes to the Treasury's 'green book' rules that govern whether major projects are approved. Article continues below The Government hopes that changing the green book will make it easier to invest in areas outside London and the South East.
The Guardian
33 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Brick by brick: UK builders gear up for post-pandemic boom despite global gloom
Plasterboard should be in plentiful supply when Labour's building boom gets under way later this year, says John Sinfield. His new £170m factory near Bristol will dramatically cut the need for imports of the essential building product, he argues. Sinfield, the UK boss of plasterboard maker Etex, is not alone in the UK construction sector in taking a bet that the industry could soon prove a bright spot despite gloom over the impact of Donald Trump's tariffs on the global economy. 'You've got to invest ahead of the curve,' Sinfield says. Domestic brick factories are gearing up for a building bonanza that is expected to increase residential housing starts next year by more than 5%, according to the construction industry consultancy and data provider Glenigan. Shareholders in major housebuilders also appear to be picking up on the good vibes. On Tuesday, Bellway Homes, one of the UK's largest home builders, reported 'robust' spring trading and a strong outlook for the year ahead. It was enough to drive up builders' shares, putting those including Persimmon, Barratt Developments, Redrow and Taylor Wimpey at the top of the FTSE 100 risers' list. The arm of the construction industry that makes the walls, stairs and plumbing for every new home may not be as visible as the large housing developers, but will play a key part in the hoped-for building boom essential for the Labour government reaching its target of 1.5m new homes by the end of the parliament. Ministers see addressing the failure to build new homes quickly – by an industry tarnished by huge bonuses for executives – as a significant driver of economic growth. The housing minister, Angela Rayner, has spent the last few months locked in a battle with the chancellor, Rachel Reeves, over funding for her housebuilding plan in the run-up to Wednesday's spending review. There is deep scepticism about Labour's ability to reach the wished-for 300,000-a-year level of construction – up from 184,390 completions in 2024 – after a spate of negative figures that appeared to show a contraction within the industry in 2023 and 2024 was going to scar 2025 as well. Meanwhile, there are signs that economic uncertainty is affecting demand: house prices fell in May by 0.4%, dragging down the annual growth rate from to 2.5% from 3.2% in April, according to figures from Halifax. Construction firms are recovering from an inflationary rise during the pandemic that sent the cost of everything from timber to concrete blocks soaring. The price of building a home has since levelled off, but the cost of raw materials prices and skilled labour remains high. Surveys of the sector show a period of contraction that started in 2023 has continued this year, forcing many employers to lay off staff. An S&P Global survey of company purchasing managers in May showed the pace of layoffs was the worst since the post-banking crash period in 2010, excluding the pandemic. However, separate studies from industry bodies and Bellway's update contradict this gloomy message. They indicate a turnaround, and with the added twist of lessons learned from Covid. Namely, that a reliance on foreign suppliers can lead to shortages very quickly when the global shipping industry is upended. Unlike during the pandemic, homegrown manufacturing is protecting the housebuilding industry against Trump's see-sawing tariff war with domestic supplies available allaying concerns over products being held up at ports across the world. In fact, says Allan Wilen, chief economist at Glenigan, UK companies could benefit from importing cheap construction materials previously destined for the US, but redirected to avoid high import tariffs. 'It's possible that is one result of US tariffs,' he says. For Sinfield, the anticipated step up in demand should keep workers busy at his new 57,000 sq metre facility, located next to the Port of Bristol. Opened last year, the site will recycle about 35% of the material it uses from UK waste sources, further cutting the need for foreign supplies. Etex, the Belgian owner of the site, is selling boards that would previously have travelled from plants in Spain. Sinfield says the project pipeline is strong. 'The only question is how long it takes for contractors to go from the drawing board to being on site,' he says. Richard Burbidge, a family run business based in an eco-factory in north Wales, is also at the sharp end of the cyclical industry. The timber business makes stairs for new-build homes and is managed by Josh Burbidge, who is in the fifth generation to lead the 158-year-old enterprise. He says the firm responded to the energy price spike propelled by Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 with a huge investment in solar panels, which cover the factory roof, and is just about coping with the extra costs from April's rise in national insurance and the higher minimum wage. Sign up to Business Today Get set for the working day – we'll point you to all the business news and analysis you need every morning after newsletter promotion At the moment their wood comes from the US, but his suppliers are ready to switch to Europe. In the longer term, he says: 'The actions of the US to place tariffs on traded goods will only encourage companies like ours to seek out and engage more reliable sources of product to place on the UK market.' Noble Francis, chief economist at the Construction Products Association, says brick deliveries are a useful proxy for housebuilding starts, where he anticipates a 5% expansion this year and 7% in 2026. Brick production was up by 31.4% in February, before slipping back to an 8% annual rise March, possibly because there is still a surplus of 459 million bricks in stock, according to the Department for Business and Trade. Francis is forecasting 2.1% growth in construction output volume this year, mostly skewed towards the second half of the year, and 4% growth in 2026. 'This year's private housing forecast is in line with the major housebuilders, which are broadly anticipating 3% to 8% growth a year over the next few years after a double-digit falls in activity between 2021-22 and 2023-24,' he says. Glenigan also offers a buoyant outlook, saying there are 'signs of renewed confidence', adding that housebuilding 'led the charge', with residential starts rising 24% in the three months to the end of April from the previous quarter. Private companies account for 87% of total housebuilding, so growth in 2025 will mainly be determined by demand in that sector, over social housing, he adds. As a sector, construction accounts for about 6% of national output, or gross domestic product (GDP), which is the equivalent of £170bn from an economy that generated £2.8tn in 2024. Labour has said it expects changes to planning laws, freeing up land for building, will generate an extra £6.8bn in activity by 2030. If larger housebuilders have one fear, it is the potential for shortages of skilled staff, especially in the midst of a clampdown on immigration. To prevent new border controls from derailing the building boom, the government said last month it will spend an extra £3bn to train 120,000 skilled workers, including builders, by 2030. Rayner is more concerned that private housebuilders will prove reluctant to complete large-scale projects to prevent over-supply denting house prices and profit margins. Yet even in that scenario it would take many months before supply would outstrip demand. In the meantime, the pillars underpinning growth appear to be in place, including a more secure domestic supply chain. The only question is how quickly it will gather pace.
