Former minister Tulip Siddiq has asked to meet Bangladesh’s leader during his London visit to clear up a “misunderstanding” amid corruption allegations made by his administration which forced her resignation.
Siddiq’s aunt Sheikh Hasina, ousted after 15 years as prime minister, has been charged with crimes against humanity following an anti-government uprising, which she denies
Bangladesh’s Anti-Corruption Commission has sought an arrest warrant over claims Siddiq herself illegally received a 7,200 square feet plot of land in the country’s capital, Dhaka, through “abuse of power and influence”.
Hampstead and Highgate Labour MP Siddiq said authorities are waging a “politically motivated smear campaign” and insists there is “no evidence that I’ve done anything wrong”.
In a letter to Muhammad Yunus, interim leader of the South Asian state, Siddiq asked for an opportunity to discuss the ongoing saga when he comes to the capital next week to see King Charles and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer in Downing Street.
She suggests a meeting might “help clear up the misunderstanding perpetuated by the anti-corruption committee in Dhaka that I have questions to answer in relation to my mother’s sister, the former prime minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina”.
Siddiq writes: “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. The country is dear to my heart but it is not the country where I was born, live in or have built my career in.
“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.”
Siddiq added: “Every move in this fantasy investigation is briefed to the media, and yet no engagement was facilitated with my legal team.
“I know you’ll appreciate how important it is to ensure those reports do not become a distraction from the critical work of doing my very best for my constituents and my country.”
Siddiq quit from her post in the Treasury earlier this year following an investigation by the PM’s ethics adviser into her links to her aunt’s regime, which was overthrown last year.
Although Sir Laurie Magnus concluded that she had not breached the Ministerial Code, he advised Sir Keir to reconsider her responsibilities.
But Ms Siddiq chose to resign, saying she had become “a distraction” from the Government’s agenda.
Last month the National Crime Agency froze almost £90m of luxury London property belonging to two men linked to Siddiq’s aunt.
Shafiqul Alam, the Bangladeshi leader’s spokesman, said his government had not yet received the letter - although it is understood to have been emailed and posted by the former City minister’s lawyers.
“We cannot comment on something we have not seen,” he told The Observer.
