UK MP Tulip Siddiq Receives Two-Year Sentence in Bangladesh
Labour MP and former minister Tulip Siddiq has been sentenced to two years in prison and a 100,000 Bangladeshi Taka fine (approximately $821 or £620) by a Bangladeshi court. The conviction occurred in her absence on corruption charges. An additional six months will be added to the sentence if the fine is not paid.
Allegations and Denials
Ms. Siddiq was found guilty of influencing her aunt, Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh's former Prime Minister, to secure a plot of land for her family in Dhaka's outskirts. Ms. Siddiq, who resides in London, has denied the charges. She stated that she has received no direct contact or summons from Bangladeshi authorities regarding the allegations or the conviction.
The Labour MP described the process as "flawed and farcical" and has engaged legal representatives in both the UK and Bangladesh. She stated her knowledge of the conviction came from media reports, referring to it as "trial by media."
Court documents included claims that Ms. Siddiq "forced and influenced her aunt and the former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina using her special power to secure [a plot of land] for her mother Rehana Siddiq, sister Azmina Siddiq and brother Radwan Siddiq."
Citizenship and Legal Proceedings
A prosecutor for Bangladesh's Anti-Corruption Commission stated that Ms. Siddiq was tried as a Bangladeshi citizen, citing her Bangladeshi passport, ID, and tax number. However, Ms. Siddiq's lawyers have disputed her Bangladeshi citizenship, asserting she has not held a Bangladeshi ID card or voter ID, nor a passport since childhood.
Since the overturning of Sheikh Hasina's regime, Bangladeshi prosecutors have initiated numerous legal cases against the former leader, her associates, and family members. Ms. Siddiq's trial began in Dhaka in August and she continues to face several outstanding charges, including ongoing trials related to the allegations of land influence and an an investigation concerning the transfer of a flat to her sister in Dhaka. She has also been investigated regarding alleged embezzlement linked to a £3.9 billion Russian-funded nuclear power plant deal in 2013. These allegations originated from Bobby Hajjaj, a political opponent of Ms. Hasina. Bangladeshi authorities estimate that approximately $234 billion (£174 billion) was appropriated through corruption during Ms. Hasina's administration.
International and Party Response
A Labour Party spokesperson stated that the party "could not recognise the judgement," noting that legal professionals had indicated Ms. Siddiq had not received a fair legal process and was not informed of charge details despite repeated requests to Bangladeshi authorities. Ms. Siddiq maintains her Labour Party membership and the Labour whip in the House of Commons.
A group of senior lawyers, including former Justice Secretary Robert Buckland, former Attorney General Dominic Grieve, and human rights lawyer Lady Cherie Blair, raised concerns with Bangladesh's representative in the UK regarding the trial's conduct. Their letter, reported by The Guardian, stated that Ms. Siddiq had been unable to secure proper legal representation and characterized the process as "artificial and a contrived and unfair way of pursuing a prosecution."
Contextual Information
The verdict for Ms. Siddiq follows Sheikh Hasina's sentencing to death two weeks prior in a separate trial. Ms. Hasina was convicted in absentia of crimes against humanity for her role in a crackdown against protests in July 2024, which led to an estimated 1,400 deaths and ultimately her removal from office. Ms. Hasina, who is in exile in India, denied these charges.
The Awami League, Ms. Hasina's political party, described the verdict against Ms. Siddiq as "entirely predictable" and denied the allegations against Ms. Hasina and her family, asserting the process "fails to pass any reasonable test of judicial fairness." Ms. Hasina has accused Bangladesh's judiciary of being controlled by the interim government led by Dr. Muhammad Yunus.
Prior to her resignation as a Treasury minister in January, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's independent ethics adviser, Sir Laurie Magnus, found no "evidence of improprieties" after an investigation. However, he noted it was "regrettable" that Ms. Siddiq had not been more aware of the "potential reputational risks" associated with her ties to Ms. Hasina. Ms. Siddiq resigned from her junior ministerial role to avoid being a "distraction" for the government.
The UK does not have an extradition treaty with Bangladesh, which is categorized as a 2B country. This means clear evidence must be presented to lawyers and judges to authorize any extradition. Ms. Siddiq was not compelled to return to Dhaka for the trial despite an arrest warrant being issued by Bangladeshi authorities.