Labour minister Tulip Siddiq, serving as the UK Treasury’s Economic Secretary, is facing allegations of facilitating corruption involving £3.9 billion (Tk 590 billion) in Bangladesh infrastructure projects. This claim stems from an investigation launched by the Bangladesh Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).
The accusations also implicate Siddiq’s aunt, former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who was deposed in August. Siddiq and her family have denied the allegations, labeling them politically motivated.
Key Allegations
- Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant Deal:
- Siddiq is accused of mediating and facilitating meetings between Bangladeshi and Russian officials for the £10 billion Rooppur Power Plant Project.
- The agreement allegedly inflated the project cost by £1 billion, with 30% purportedly distributed among Siddiq, Sheikh Hasina, and other family members via offshore companies.
- Role in Corruption Network:
- Allegations by political rival Bobby Hajjaj claim that Siddiq coordinated financial transactions through a “complex network of banks and overseas companies.”
- Documents seen by the BBC highlight claims of embezzlement tied to the project, facilitated during Siddiq’s visit to the Kremlin in 2013.
Broader Investigation
The ACC’s probe extends to several members of Sheikh Hasina’s family, including Siddiq’s mother, Sheikh Rehana Siddiq, and other former government officials.
Hasina, who led Bangladesh for over two decades, is accused of orchestrating crimes against humanity during anti-government demonstrations that led to mass casualties. She is also wanted by Bangladesh’s International Criminal Tribunal (ICT) and faces multiple charges from the new Bangladeshi administration.
Political Context
- The allegations have drawn sharp reactions, with Syed Faruk, head of the UK branch of Hasina’s Awami League party, calling the charges “fabricated.”
- A source close to Siddiq described the claims as “completely politically motivated,” aimed at undermining her family’s legacy.
Tulip Siddiq, representing Hampstead and Highgate, has served as an MP since 2015, with her constituency bordering Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Holborn and St Pancras seat.
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