Tulip Siddiq has been named by investigators in Bangladesh in a second corruption investigation over a plot of land her family received “illegally” from her despot aunt’s government.
Bangladesh’s anti-corruption commission (ACC) believes the Ms Siddiq, Sir Keir Starmer’s anti-corruption minister, used “her influence” while serving as an MP to obtain the land for her mother, Sheikh Rehana, and two additional plots for her siblings.
The claim is separate from a £4 billion embezzlement investigation by the anti-corruption commission into a nuclear deal struck by Sheikh Hasina, the ousted prime minister, in which Ms Siddiq has also been named but which sources close to the minister have dismissed as “spurious”.
Ms Siddiq is the niece of Shiekh Hasina, the longest serving prime minister of Bangladesh.
Ms Hasina is now in India, having been ousted last year after 15 years in power. During her tenure, opponents were attacked, arrested and secretly imprisoned as the regime carried out extrajudicial killings.
Ms Siddiq is under increasing pressure over ties to her aunt and the use of properties in London, which have been linked to allies of Ms Hasina.
Sheikh Hasina (right) the former Bangladeshi prime minister, with her sister and Tulip Siddiq’s mother, Sheikh Rehana – AFP via Getty Images
On Monday, Bangladesh’s anti-corruption commission said it intended to file a case against Ms Siddiq and others over the allocation of plots of land in the diplomatic zone of the capital Dhaka from the government of Ms Hasina.
Aktarul Islam a spokesman for the commission, told The Telegraph Ms Siddiq is accused of involvement in the illegal allocation of a plot measuring 10 katha, or 7,200 square feet, from a scheme called the Purbachal New Town Project.
The first information report seen by The Telegraph says that Muhammad Salahuddin, deputy director of the commission, has declared that Ms Siddiq used her influence over the project.
“I Muhammad Salahuddin, deputy director, ACC, hereby declare that Tulip Siddiq by virtue of her direct influence and special power forced the Bangladesh officials to take measures for the allotment of plots for her family members in the project,” it says.
The ACC officials said that Ms Hasina allegedly allocated plots under political considerations in 2022 in collaboration with senior officials of Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk), the capital development authority of Bangladesh.
Rajuk is responsible for the urban planning, development, and regulation of construction within the Dhaka metropolitan development area.
Mr Islam said: “Ms Tulip Rizwana Siddiq, while serving as a [British] MP, used her special authority to influence Sheikh Hasina, the ex-prime minister, to obtain a plot for her mother Sheikh Rehana, and two additional plots for her siblings”.
He further explained that Ms Rehana already owned a house in Dhaka, making it illegal under Rajuk rules to acquire an additional plot for residential purposes.
“Despite this, Tulip used her influence to have the plots allocated to her mother and siblings on Oct 10 2022,” he said. “We have listed her as an accused in this fraudulent activity,” he said.
Akhtar Hossain, director general of the anti-corruption commission, said that Ms Hasina, her sister Ms Rehana, and Ms Rehana’s eldest daughter, Ms Siddiq, along with officials from Rajuk and the ministry of housing and public works, have been named as accused in corruption cases.
Mr Hossain stated that the ACC investigation team recommended filing a case against Ms Siddiq for allegedly using her influence to unlawfully secure land allocations for her family by leveraging the authority of her aunt.
According to the investigation, Ms Siddiq, along with her siblings Bobby and Azmina, is accused of using her influence relating to three plots of land, each measuring 10 katha, totalling 30 katha. These plots are situated on Road 203 in the diplomatic zone of Sector 27, part of the Purbachal New Town Project.
Mr Hossain further disclosed: “In the case against Rehana (Tulip’s mother), 15 individuals have been named as accused, while 16 individuals have been implicated in each case concerning Bobby and Azmina.”
In 2008, Rajuk announced through public advertisements that it would allocate plots under the Purbachal New Town Project.
As per the provisions of Rajuk, a designated committee oversees the allocation process, ensuring plots are granted to eligible applicants. These provisions also mandate Rajuk to publish the list of successful applicants in newspapers for transparency.
However, an ACC inquiry revealed that the published lists did not include the names of Hasina or any of her family members.
According to the rules, individuals who own a house, flat, or other residential property within the development authority’s jurisdiction in Dhaka city are ineligible for additional plots. These regulations extend to family members of such property owners.
Allocation of plots
However the ACC believes that Ms Hasina facilitated the allocation of plots in her name and those of her family members in collusion with senior officials.
These allocations reportedly involved irregularities and corruption during her tenure as prime minister and were allocated on various dates in 2022.
It comes after Sir Keir, the Prime Minister, was urged to “get a grip” and sack Ms Siddiq amid allegations over her use of properties in London linked to her aunt’s former Bangladeshi regime.
The anti-corruption minister has faced questions over her links to the Awami League, which is led by Ms Hasina, her aunt and Bangladesh’s former prime minister.
Ms Siddiq denied all wrongdoing and said any suggestion that her ownership of properties is linked to support for the party is “categorically wrong”.
However Sir Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister, of whom she is a close personal friend, has been told that the minister cannot do her job “effectively” as a result of the allegations.
Labour Party posters and flyers produced by Ms Siddiq were also found in the ruins of Ganabhaban, her aunt’s formal official residence in Dhaka.
The Sunday Times reported that under the rubble, left when the site was stormed during a popular uprising last year, was a thank you note to local Labour Party members following Ms Siddiq’s election as MP for Hampstead and Kilburn.
Ms Siddiq has already referred herself to Sir Laurie Magnus, the independent adviser of ministerial standards, who is examining claims surrounding her use of two flats in London.
It is unclear whether Sir Laurie will examine allegations in Bangladesh or only the claims around Ms Siddiq’s properties in the UK.
Asked about the plots in Bangladesh, a spokesman for Ms Siddiq said: “Tulip Siddiq has self-reported to the independent adviser on ministerial standards to independently establish the facts on these matters.
“She is clear that she has done nothing wrong. It would be inappropriate to comment further while that process is ongoing.”