An arrest warrant has been issued in Bangladesh for British MP Tulip Siddiq, accusing her of illegally receiving a plot of land from her aunt, the former Bangladeshi prime minister Sheikh Hasina.
The warrant is part of a wider crackdown involving 53 individuals connected to Hasina’s administration, according to Bangladeshi media.
The warrant was issued by a local judge amid ongoing political upheaval in Bangladesh following the collapse of Hasina’s government.
Although serious allegations have been levelled, there is currently no formal extradition treaty between the United Kingdom and Bangladesh, making it unlikely Siddiq would face legal proceedings abroad.
Tulip Siddiq, the Labour MP for Hampstead and Highgate, has firmly denied any wrongdoing. She described the allegations as part of a “targeted and baseless” campaign orchestrated by the Bangladeshi authorities.
Siddiq, who is the granddaughter of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founding father of Bangladesh, has often faced political scrutiny due to her family ties.
In January, Siddiq resigned from her post as Economic Secretary to the Treasury, citing concerns that the controversy surrounding her alleged use of properties linked to her aunt’s former regime could become a distraction for the British government.
She emphasised at the time that she wished to protect the government from being harmed by the ongoing furore.
Sheikh Hasina, who served as prime minister for more than a decade, was removed from power earlier this year after mounting allegations of corruption and political repression.
The new administration has launched investigations into a number of former officials and relatives, with Siddiq now among those under scrutiny.
Despite the charges brought forward in Bangladesh, Siddiq continues to serve as MP and maintains her innocence, receiving support from several colleagues who have criticised the legal actions as politically motivated.
The British government has not yet commented on the situation. Legal experts suggest that without an extradition treaty, any attempt to bring Siddiq before Bangladeshi courts would face significant challenges.
