Tulip Siddiq, Labour Party MP and former UK city minister, has been listed as a resident of a luxury 10-storey apartment complex in Dhaka, Bangladesh, bearing her family’s name, "Siddiques," The Telegraph has revealed.
An official document from 2014, during Siddiq's tenure as a councillor in Camden, north London, recorded her "permanent address" as the upmarket complex situated in Gulshan, Dhaka’s diplomatic and commercial enclave, reports The Telegraph.
This property marks the fifth in Bangladesh linked to Siddiq through court documents or media reports.
Labour Party sources maintain that Siddiq does not own any property in Bangladesh and is under no obligation to address questions concerning properties that do not belong to her.
Nevertheless, the revelations come nearly a month after her resignation as City Minister, following an ethics inquiry led by Sir Laurie Magnus.
The investigation concluded Siddiq had inadvertently misled the public regarding a flat gifted to her by an individual associated with the Awami League, the political party formerly led by her aunt, Sheikh Hasina.
Siddiq’s brief as Treasury Minister notably encompassed anti-corruption efforts. She referred herself for investigation amid mounting questions concerning her connections to London properties linked to her aunt’s political network.
Sheikh Hasina, 77, Bangladesh’s longest-serving Prime Minister, was ousted from office in August last year following a violent crackdown on protests, resulting in the deaths of 1,500 people. Her regime faced allegations of political repression, including extrajudicial killings, arbitrary arrests, and secret detentions.
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) in Bangladesh is currently investigating a family holiday estate in Kanaiya, where a section is labelled "Tulip’s Territory." This inquiry coincides with new disclosures linking Siddiq to the Gulshan apartment block.
Official documents indicate the property served as both her "current" and "permanent" address shortly after she stepped down from her Camden council position in May 2014.
Constructed in the 2010s, the Siddiques complex boasts a rooftop terrace alongside spacious two and three-bedroom flats with balconies, a stark contrast to the living conditions endured by many of Dhaka’s 20 million residents.
The building’s naming origins remain ambiguous, potentially honouring Siddiq’s father, Shafique Ahmed Siddique, her grandfather, or the family more broadly.
Reports suggest the land was owned by a family member, though Labour declined to clarify current ownership details.
Shafique Ahmed Siddique, Siddiq’s father and an academic, was listed as a resident until recently, according to an online university biography. He is married to Sheikh Rehana, sister of Sheikh Hasina.
Beyond the Siddiques complex, Siddiq has been associated with other properties in Gulshan and Dhanmondi. The latter, belonging to Sheikh Hasina, was recently attacked and set ablaze by protesters.
Media footage depicted Siddiq’s graduation photograph amidst the wreckage, hanging on a shattered glass door frame with flames consuming the background.
Siddiq also co-owned a Dhaka flat valued at over £100,000, which was sold in 2015, as disclosed in Parliament's Register of Interests.
Additionally, her father’s family estate, featuring signage for "Tulip’s Territory," has raised questions, though Siddiq asserts no ownership and disputes claims suggesting the entire property bears her name.
Labour has refrained from commenting on the Siddiques property, emphasising Siddiq’s residence in London at the time and her lack of property ownership in Bangladesh.
The ACC’s investigations extend to allegations implicating Siddiq in a £4 billion embezzlement related to a nuclear power project with Russia and claims of her involvement in illicit land allocations in Dhaka.
Responding to these inquiries, a spokesperson stated, "No evidence has been presented for these allegations. Tulip Siddiq has not been contacted by any investigative authority and categorically denies the claims."
