Tulip Siddiq Faces Calls for Resignation Over Alleged Links to Corruption in Bangladesh
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is under mounting pressure to dismiss his anti-corruption minister, Tulip Siddiq, following allegations of property deals linked to her aunt, Sheikh Hasina, the ousted leader of Bangladesh.
Muhammad Yunus, the interim leader of Bangladesh and Nobel Peace Prize-winning economist, has called for Ms. Siddiq and her family to return properties allegedly obtained through corrupt practices during Ms. Hasina’s regime. He also urged Ms. Siddiq to apologize for her aunt’s alleged corruption and humanitarian crimes, which are currently under investigation.
“It’s a big deal if a UK parliament member is involved in wrongdoing,” Mr. Yunus told The Sunday Times from Dhaka. He emphasized that assets acquired during Ms. Hasina’s tenure represented “plain robbery.”
Ms. Siddiq has referred herself to Prime Minister Starmer’s ethics adviser and denies any wrongdoing, describing the allegations as politically motivated. However, scrutiny intensified after a report revealed she lived in a London property purchased by an offshore company tied to individuals named in the Panama Papers.
The property, as well as others connected to Ms. Hasina’s family, is under investigation by Bangladesh’s Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). Britain’s National Crime Agency has also dispatched investigators to Bangladesh and may seek to freeze assets linked to the allegations.
Ms. Siddiq’s position has drawn criticism from Conservative opposition leader Kemi Badenoch, who warned of a potential diplomatic crisis if the minister remains in office. “The prime minister’s weak leadership on Siddiq suggests he is not as committed to integrity as he claims,” Ms. Badenoch said.
Reports of Ms. Siddiq accepting hospitality during the 2019 Cricket World Cup from a figure closely connected to Ms. Hasina have further fueled calls for her resignation. Additionally, Bangladesh’s Financial Intelligence Unit is examining financial transactions linked to her accounts.
Sheikh Hasina, who led Bangladesh for 20 years, fled to India in August 2024 following mass protests over police violence. Official investigations suggest that billions of dollars were funneled out of Bangladesh during her tenure, with some funds reportedly used to purchase London properties.
Downing Street has indicated it will await the findings of the ethics investigation but is reportedly considering Ms. Siddiq’s replacement. Her ministerial portfolio includes countering economic crime, money laundering, and illicit finance—areas directly tied to the allegations she faces.
With the controversy escalating, calls for accountability are growing both in Britain and Bangladesh.