Bangladeshi authorities have issued an arrest warrant for British MP Tulip Siddiq as part of an ongoing anti-corruption investigation targeting over 50 individuals linked to the deposed government of Sheikh Hasina, Siddiq’s aunt and the former prime minister of Bangladesh.
Siddiq, who represents Hampstead and Highgate and previously served as economic secretary to the UK Treasury, resigned from her ministerial post in January following initial reports of the probe. The warrant, issued by Bangladesh’s Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), accuses Siddiq of illegally receiving land in Dhaka and allegedly facilitating inflated infrastructure deals during Hasina’s tenure.
Siddiq’s legal team, however, has strongly denied the allegations, calling them “completely false” and “politically motivated.” In a statement released by her lawyers at Stephenson Harwood, they asserted that Siddiq has not been contacted directly by the ACC, nor has she received formal notice of an arrest warrant. “There is absolutely no truth in any claim that she received a plot of land in Bangladesh through illegal means,” the statement said. “She has never held land in Bangladesh and has never influenced land allocations.”
The investigation stems from claims made by Bangladeshi political figure Bobby Hajjaj, a longtime critic of Sheikh Hasina. He alleges that Siddiq played a role in brokering a 2013 deal with Russia for a nuclear power plant, inflating its price to facilitate embezzlement. The ACC estimates that Hasina and close associates may have misappropriated as much as £3.9 billion in public funds during her time in office.
Under UK law, Bangladesh is classified as a 2B extradition country, meaning substantial evidence must be presented before any extradition proceedings can move forward. This classification adds another layer of complexity to the case and places the final decision in the hands of both the UK Home Office and judiciary.
The ACC has stood firm on the legitimacy of its investigation. Chairman Mohammad Abdul Momen told the BBC that the inquiry is supported by “documentary evidence” and dismissed any claims of political interference. “Tulip Siddiq must not shy away from the court proceedings in Bangladesh,” he said. “I welcome her to defend her case with the best legal support.”
Siddiq had previously referred herself to the UK Prime Minister’s ethics adviser, Sir Laurie Magnus, when the allegations first emerged. In his findings, Sir Laurie said there was no evidence of impropriety but noted that Siddiq should have been more mindful of the “reputational risks” stemming from her family connections.
As political tensions rise between London and Dhaka, the case is likely to test international legal boundaries and draw further scrutiny of the political fallout following Sheikh Hasina’s removal from office.
