Bangladesh will seek Tulip Siddiq’s extradition after corruption conviction, PM-elect’s top aide says
Bangladesh’s newly elected government will push for the extradition of former British minister Tulip Siddiq to face prison time over alleged corruption, according to a top aide to future prime minister Tarique Rahman.
The Labor MP was sentenced to four and two years in prison in two separate corruption cases in Bangladesh.
He was convicted along with his aunt, former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, and other members of his family after being tried in absentia.
The Hampstead and Highgate MP denied the allegations. It seems unlikely that Britain will serve the sentence because it does not have an extradition agreement with Bangladesh.
“They are both convicted criminals now,” said Humayun Kabir, who was named foreign minister under Mr. Rahman. Independent, He is referring to the UK MP and his aunt. “Therefore, the judicial process follows them in a transparent manner.”
Independent Reached out to Ms Siddiq for comment.
Mr Rahman’s Bangladesh Nationalist Party won a landslide victory in parliamentary elections on Friday, returning to power after nearly two decades. The victory cemented Mr. Rahman, the son of the late prime minister Khaleda Zia, as the country’s leader almost 18 months after a bloody uprising in 2024 toppled Ms. Hasina’s Awami League government and sent her fleeing to India.
The UN estimates that at least 1,400 people died during the protests.
Ms. Hasina has since been sentenced to death for crimes against humanity.
The former leader is also facing a number of corruption cases, some of which name Ms Siddiqui. Ms Siddiq left her post as UK anti-corruption minister in early 2025 after Bangladeshi prosecutors launched a case against her.
Asked whether the new government would drop the cases against Ms. Siddiqui and Ms. Hasina, Mr. Kabir, Mr. Rahman’s foreign affairs adviser, said: “We will not intervene. We will let the judicial process decide their fate.”
“Tulip Siddiq is an embarrassment to the UK government,” he said, adding that Keir Starmer’s government “needs to be clear” about its stance on criminals. “Criminals cannot use a British passport to protect their criminal activities.”
“There are ethical boundaries, ethical concerns and moral concerns. So, if a government is weak on its ethical and moral beliefs, then it will not send a good message to the world in dealing with criminals,” Mr. Kabir said.
“So we expect the UK government to deal harshly with all Awami League criminals and terrorists on UK territory who are trying to terrorize and destabilize Bangladesh using money laundering activities. And we will submit a list to the British government.”
“We want them back,” the aide added. “We would also like the UK to pursue these criminals on extradition. If we are to be a strong partner with the UK in tackling illegal immigration, why should the UK be no different in tackling criminals fleeing Bangladesh into UK territory?”
Mr Kabir said it was a welcome move for the UK’s National Crime Agency to freeze more than £170 million in assets, including nearly 300 properties linked to former Bangladeshi minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury. But more needs to be done, he said.
