Former UK minister Tulip Siddiq seeks meeting with Bangladesh's Yunus over corruption allegations

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Former UK minister Tulip Siddiq has sought a meeting with Bangladesh's Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus in London to clear up a 'misunderstanding' over corruption allegations against her. read more
Former UK minister Tulip Siddiq has requested a meeting with Bangladesh's Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus during his upcoming visit to London to clarify what she described as a 'misunderstanding' related to corruption allegations.
In a letter dated June 4, Siddiq asked Yunus for a chance to speak with him during his four-day UK visit from June 10 to 13. Yunus is scheduled to meet King Charles and Labour leader Keir Starmer at Downing Street during the trip.
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The request comes in the wake of corruption allegations made by Dhaka's authorities, including claims that Siddiq or her mother improperly received a 7,200 sq ft land allotment by exploiting political influence. The accusations, aired prominently in Bangladeshi media, stem from an ongoing investigation by the country's Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).
Siddiq is the niece of Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh's former prime minister who was recently tried in absentia on charges of crimes against humanity stemming from her 15-year tenure. Bangladeshi officials have accused Siddiq of having benefited from her family ties to Hasina's administration — an assertion Siddiq strongly denies.
Siddiq said she believes that a direct conversation could help address claims made by Bangladesh's anti-corruption commission, which she says wrongly implied she has to answer for alleged misconduct involving her aunt, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
'I am a UK citizen, born in London and representing the people of Hampstead and Highgate in parliament for the last decade. I have no property nor any business interests whatsoever in Bangladesh,' she said.
'I have sought to clarify this to the ACC, but they refuse to engage with my lawyers in London and apparently keep sending correspondence to a random address in Dhaka,' she said.
Siddiq, accused of benefiting from the regime led by deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina, was forced to resign from the UK government following the accusations.
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Siddiq's aunt, Hasina, was put on trial in absentia last week over crimes against humanity during her 15-year rule as prime minister.
The ACC claimed Siddiq or her mother had received a 7,200 sq ft plot of land through 'abuse of power and influence'.
Siddiq has denied the allegations, with her lawyers describing them as 'politically motivated' and without foundation.
She further claimed not to have been contacted by the authorities over any of the allegations, Prothom Alo reported.
She was cleared of any wrongdoing by the adviser on ministerial standards, Laurie Magnus, but resigned as economic secretary to the Treasury and city minister over the 'distraction' being caused for Keir Starmer's new government.
Siddiq claimed she was being targeted by a 'politically motivated smear campaign' orchestrated by Hasina's opponents.
The British MP is yet to receive any response to the letter from Yunus or his office, BD News quoted a source close to Tulip as saying.
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According to the source, Tulip does not understand why the ACC is after her.
Last month, a warrant was issued in Bangladesh for Siddiq's arrest.
She claims to have no knowledge of any such warrant or court hearings to which she was required to appear.
As a 2B extradition country, the UK requires ministers and judges to see clear evidence from Bangladesh before they make an arrest decision.
Arrest warrants have also been issued for Tulip's mother, Rehana, and her siblings, all of whom deny the allegations.
With inputs from agencies