Tulip Siddiq, the former Labour minister in the United Kingdom, has dismissed corruption allegations brought against her by Bangladesh’s Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), describing them as "targeted and baseless".
Her legal representatives have criticised the ACC for informing the media of the allegations before directly notifying Siddiq. In a letter to the commission, her lawyers denounced this approach, BBC reported.
Siddiq resigned as Economic Secretary to the Treasury in January, where she had been responsible for addressing corruption in the UK’s financial markets. At the time, she maintained that she had done nothing wrong but stepped down to avoid becoming a distraction to the government.
Responding to her lawyers’ claims, ACC Chairman Mohammad Abdul Momen told the BBC that the allegations were "by no means 'targeted and baseless'" and that the investigation was "based on documentary evidence of corruption".
"I would welcome Siddiq to come and defend her case, accompanied by the best possible legal support," he added.
Momen also dismissed suggestions that the ACC was interfering in UK politics, asserting that media briefings were routine and conducted with professionalism and accuracy.
When the allegations first surfaced in January, Siddiq referred herself to the Prime Minister’s Ethics Adviser, Sir Laurie Magnus. In his report, Sir Laurie stated that he had "not identified evidence of improprieties" but noted it was "regrettable" that Siddiq had not been more mindful of the "potential reputational risks" posed by her familial ties to Sheikh Hasina, the deposed Prime Minister of Bangladesh and leader of the Awami League.
In accepting her resignation, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, a close associate of Siddiq who represents a neighbouring North London constituency, indicated that the "door remains open" for her return to government.
The ACC is investigating allegations that Sheikh Hasina and her family embezzled up to £3.9 billion from infrastructure projects in Bangladesh. The inquiry follows claims made by Bobby Hajjaj, a political opponent of Hasina.
According to court documents obtained by the BBC, Hajjaj has alleged that Siddiq facilitated a deal with Russia in 2013 that led to an inflated contract price for a nuclear power plant in Bangladesh.
In response, Siddiq’s lawyers, Stephenson Harwood, reiterated her denial of any involvement in the nuclear deal, despite photographs showing her at a signing ceremony in the Kremlin in 2013, alongside Sheikh Hasina and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
"It is not uncommon for family members to accompany heads of state on official visits," their letter states, adding that she had no knowledge of any financial irregularities.
The letter also refutes allegations that a £700,000 flat in King’s Cross, London, gifted to Siddiq in 2004, was linked to embezzlement, arguing that the claim was "absurd" given that the alleged nuclear deal occurred a decade later.
Sir Laurie’s investigation noted that Siddiq "remained under the impression that her parents had purchased the property for her", though she later had to correct the record upon assuming ministerial office. He described this as an "unfortunate misunderstanding" that inadvertently misled the public about the donor’s identity.
Siddiq’s lawyers confirmed that the King’s Cross flat had been a gift from Abdul Motalif, described as "an Imam and a very close family friend, akin to Ms Siddiq’s godfather".
The ACC has also accused Siddiq of involvement in land appropriations in Dhaka, a claim her legal team has rejected as an "unacceptable attempt to interfere with UK politics".
"At no point have any allegations been put to her fairly, properly and transparently, or indeed at all, by the ACC or anyone else with proper authority on behalf of the Bangladeshi government," the letter states.
"We require that you immediately cease manufacturing false and vexatious allegations against Ms Siddiq and halt further media briefings and public comments designed to harm her reputation."
The letter demands that the ACC submit any questions to Siddiq by 25 March 2025, or her legal team will consider the matter closed.
In a response seen by the BBC, the ACC has rejected these demands. A spokesman for the commission alleged that Siddiq had "spent most of her adult life residing in homes owned by cronies of the notoriously venal Awami League", arguing that this demonstrated she had benefited from the party’s corruption.
The spokesman further contended that Siddiq’s "claims to have been unaware of the nature of the Hasina regime" were implausible and confirmed that the ACC would continue liaising with her legal representatives "in due course".
