Authorities in Bangladesh have issued a warrant for the arrest of Labour MP Tulip Siddiq, according to a report. The country’s Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has sought an arrest warrant for Ms Siddiq over allegations she illegally received a 7,200 square feet plot of land in the country’s capital, Dhaka.
The allegation is reportedly separate from an investigation into Ms Siddiq’s aunt, the former Bangladeshi prime minister Sheikh Hasina, The Sunday Telegraph reports. That probe is over a nuclear power plant deal in which the Labour MP has also been named. Ms Siddiq resigned from her post as City minister earlier this year after an investigation by the Prime Minister’s ethics adviser into her links to her aunt’s regime, which was overthrown last year. Sir Laurie Magnus concluded Ms Siddiq had not breached the Ministerial Code, but he advised Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to reconsider her responsibilities.
He said that due to the nature of Ms Siddiq’s ministerial responsibilities at that time, it was “regrettable” she wasn’t more alert to the “potential reputational risks” to herself and the Government arising from her family’s links with Bangladesh.
Ms Siddiq, who is the MP for Hampstead, was responsible for promoting Britain’s financial services sector and stamping out any corrupt practices.
The Labour MP said in January that she chose to resign, adding she had become “a distraction” from the Government’s agenda.
She has denied the charges levelled against her and accuses the Bangladeshi government of pursuing a “targeted and baseless” campaign against her.
Earlier this month, Ms Siddiq accused the Bangladeshi authorities of making false allegations about her to the media for months, but that they had never contacted her directly.
In a social media post she said her lawyers had told them to stop briefing the media with “baseless allegations” and invited them to put any “legitimate questions” to her.
She claimed the Bangladeshi authorities continued to smear her with false and vexatious claims in the media.
Ms Siddiq added: “I have provided detailed rebuttals of all the allegations they have made through the media, acting in good faith despite the lack of return courtesy. Their lack of response speaks volumes.”
The MP said she would “happily” respond to any legitimate questions raised by the authorities in Bangladesh, but wouldn’t be drawn into “dirty politics”, nor allow a “witch-hunt” to undermine her work as a British citizen and MP.
Ms Siddiq and the ACC have been approached for comment about the arrest warrant.
