Labour MP Tulip Siddiq has been handed a two-year prison sentence by a court in Bangladesh, in a case she denounces as a politically motivated attack linked to her aunt, the country's former prime minister.
The Charges and Siddiq's Response
On Monday, a court in Dhaka found Siddiq, the MP for Hampstead and Kilburn, guilty of corruption charges. The allegations centre on claims she influenced her aunt, Sheikh Hasina, to secure a plot of land in a Dhaka suburb for family members. Siddiq was tried alongside 20 others, including her mother, brother, and sister.
Siddiq has vehemently denied all accusations. She states the prosecution is "completely absurd" and that she has been denied basic legal rights, including knowledge of the formal charges and access to representation. She insists she has never possessed a Bangladeshi passport or ID card as an adult, alleging documents presented by authorities are forgeries.
A group of prominent British lawyers, including former Justice Secretary Robert Buckland KC and ex-Attorney General Dominic Grieve, have supported her claims of procedural injustice. They also state a lawyer she instructed in Bangladesh was placed under house arrest and threatened.
The Context: Sheikh Hasina's Downfall
The verdict follows last month's dramatic sentencing of Siddiq's aunt, Sheikh Hasina. After 15 years in power, Hasina was ousted and later given a death sentence by a Bangladeshi tribunal for crimes against humanity. These charges related to her government's crackdown on student-led protests last year.
Hasina fled to India in a military helicopter in August last year, along with Siddiq's mother. Her regime had long been criticised by human rights groups and the UN for allegations of corruption, torture, and enforced disappearances.
Siddiq's Political Repercussions and Future
This case is separate from the controversy that led Siddiq to resign as a UK Treasury minister last January. That resignation followed an investigation into her financial links to supporters of Hasina's regime in the UK. While she was cleared of breaking rules, an official report noted it was "regrettable that she was not more alert to the potential reputational risks."
The conviction raises complex questions for UK-Bangladesh relations. There is no extradition treaty between the two countries, meaning Siddiq would not be automatically sent to Bangladesh. However, authorities could request her extradition from the Home Secretary. A conviction could also severely restrict her ability to travel to Bangladesh and allied nations.
Siddiq, who was born in London, maintains she has no role in Bangladeshi politics, despite being seen as close to her aunt during her tenure. She was present at the signing of a 2013 nuclear deal between Hasina and Vladimir Putin but describes her attendance as purely social.
