A Bangladeshi court has delivered a two-year prison sentence against British Labour MP Tulip Siddiq on corruption allegations, trying the parliamentarian in absentia. The case centers on accusations that Siddiq illegally acquired prime land plots in Dhaka through the political influence of her aunt, former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
The conviction emerges amidst ongoing political turmoil in Bangladesh following Hasina’s ouster during the July Revolution of 2024, which culminated after widespread protests against her administration’s alleged corruption and governance failures. Security forces reportedly killed over 200 demonstrators during the unrest that precipitated the government’s collapse.
Siddiq, who represents London’s Hampstead and Highgate constituency and previously served as treasury minister, vehemently denies the allegations. She has characterized the charges as “false and vexatious” while maintaining she was denied access to a fair legal process.
The Labour Party has expressed serious concerns about judicial irregularities in the case. A party spokesperson emphasized that Siddiq was never formally notified of the specific charges against her despite repeated attempts by her legal team to obtain this information from Bangladeshi authorities.
Separate investigations have alleged broader corruption involving Siddiq’s family, including claims they facilitated a Russia-funded nuclear plant agreement worth approximately £10 billion. These allegations suggest the MP may have helped broker the deal with Russian state-backed nuclear company Rosatom, though no convictions have been secured on these matters.
Siddiq resigned from her ministerial position in January 2025 as the corruption allegations intensified, though she retained her parliamentary seat. The case continues to develop diplomatic implications between the UK and Bangladesh.