Officials from the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency (NCA) recently travelled to Bangladesh to gather information on Tulip Siddiq, the former UK city minister and niece of ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina.
The British officials reportedly held a secret meeting with Bangladeshi anti-corruption investigators, according to a report published by The Mail on Sunday (2 February).
During last month’s confidential discussions, Bangladeshi officials informed the British delegation that they had obtained new evidence implicating Tulip Siddiq in corruption.
The report further stated that UK authorities might scrutinise Tulip Siddiq’s bank accounts, review email records, and even summon her for questioning.
Tulip Siddiq, along with Sheikh Hasina and other members of their family, has been accused of misappropriating funds from the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant project in Pabna.
The agreement for the plant was signed in 2013 between Hasina and Russian President Vladimir Putin, with Tulip Siddiq reportedly present during the proceedings.
Allegations suggest that she played a mediatory role in siphoning funds from the deal.
A Bangladeshi source disclosed to The Mail on Sunday that the British officials proposed an internal investigation into Tulip Siddiq through Bangladesh’s own authorities in the UK.
It is also speculated that British investigators might initiate their own formal inquiry into her alleged misconduct.
If the allegations are substantiated, Siddiq could face a prison sentence of ten years or more.
A Bangladeshi official, speaking on condition of anonymity, revealed that the UK’s NCA officials had themselves requested the secret meeting, which was subsequently arranged by the British High Commission in Dhaka.
This visit follows a prior trip by NCA investigators to Bangladesh in October last year.
On that occasion, they had assured Dhaka of their commitment to assisting in the repatriation of funds laundered from Bangladesh.
Meanwhile, on 14 January, amid mounting corruption allegations, Siddiq stepped down from her ministerial post.
