Former British minister Tulip Siddiq is under scrutiny in Bangladesh, where she faces a trial for allegedly using her familial connection to former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to secure state-owned land in Dhaka.
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) initiated proceedings against Siddiq, Hasina’s niece, alongside her mother, Sheikh Rehana, and siblings, Radwan Mujib and Azmina.
The family, accused of illegally obtaining a 7,200-square-foot plot in a diplomatic zone, is being tried in absentia after failing to appear in court.
The trial commenced on August 13, 2025, at Dhaka’s Special Judge Court-4, with three ACC officials presenting testimonies in three separate cases.
Prosecutors allege Siddiq abused her influence to facilitate the land allocation.
ACC lawyer Khan Mohammad Mainul claimed, “We have obtained all the necessary documents, including her correspondence in this matter,” asserting strong evidence against her.
Additionally, the ACC is investigating the family’s alleged role in a 2013 nuclear power plant deal with Russia, where significant funds were reportedly embezzled.
Siddiq, who resigned as the UK’s anti-corruption minister in January 2025 amid these allegations, has vehemently denied the charges.
She stated, “The so-called trial now under way in Dhaka is nothing more than a farce, built on fabricated accusations and driven by a clear political vendetta.”
Siddiq claims she was never contacted by Bangladeshi authorities, received no summons, and was not informed of a trial date change.
Her lawyer’s request to represent her in court was denied, raising concerns about the trial’s fairness.
The case unfolds against the backdrop of political upheaval in Bangladesh, following Sheikh Hasina’s ousting in August 2024 after student-led protests.
Hasina, now in exile in India, faces charges of crimes against humanity.
Interim leader Muhammad Yunus has pledged to prosecute her and her associates.
Siddiq, representing Hampstead and Highgate in the UK Parliament, insists the allegations are politically motivated, citing no direct evidence linking her to the land grab.
The trial’s outcome could have significant implications for her political career and Bangladesh’s anti-corruption efforts.