Tulip Siddiq MP given jail sentence in Bangladesh after trial in her absence

Labor Party MP and former minister Tulip Siddiq was sentenced to two years in prison after she was tried in absentia along with 16 others on corruption allegations in Bangladesh.

He was found guilty of influencing Sheikh Hasina, the ousted prime minister of Bangladesh, to obtain a plot of land for her family on the outskirts of the capital Dhaka, an allegation he vehemently denied.

It seems unlikely that Siddiq, who lives in London and denies the charges, will serve the sentence.

The Hampstead and Highgate MP continues to face a string of outstanding charges in Bangladesh.

Since the fall of Hasina’s regime, prosecutors in Bangladesh have launched a series of wide-ranging cases against the former leader, her past colleagues and family members.

The trial, attended by Siddiq, who left his post as Treasury minister in January due to disputes over his ties to his aunt, has been ongoing in Dhaka since August.

Court documents included allegations that Siddiqui “forced and influenced her aunt and former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to ensure their safety by using her special power.” [a plot of land] for his mother Rehana Siddiq, sister Azmina Siddiq and brother Radwan Siddiq”.

A prosecutor from the Bangladesh Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) had previously said Siddiq was tried as a Bangladeshi citizen because authorities had obtained his Bangladeshi passport, ID and tax number.

Siddiq’s lawyers disputed that he was a Bangladeshi citizen, telling the Financial Times that he “has never had an identity card or voter ID” and “has not had a passport since childhood”.

He was sentenced to two years in prison and a fine of 100,000 Bangladesh Taka ($821; £620) by judge Rabiul Alam. If he does not pay, six months will be added to the sentence.

As the hearing began, the lawmaker said prosecutors were “peddling unfounded and frustrating allegations that were briefed to the media but were never formally presented to me by investigators.”

The statement made on his behalf continued: “I have made it clear from the beginning that I have done nothing wrong and will respond to any credible evidence presented to me. Continuing to tarnish my name to score political points is both baseless and counterproductive.”

He has not commented publicly since the decision was announced.

Last week, a group of senior lawyers raised concerns with Bangladesh’s representative in the UK about how the case was being handled.

Those who signed the declaration included former justice secretary Robert Buckland, former attorney general Dominic Grieve and human rights lawyer Lady Cherie Blair, wife of former prime minister Sir Tony Blair.

In the first letter reported by protectorThey said Siddiqui had failed to receive appropriate legal representation during the hearing, adding: “Such a process is artificial and is a contrived and unfair way of pursuing prosecution.”

The verdict came two weeks after Hasina was sentenced to death in a separate hearing for her role in the brutal crackdown on protests that forced her to oust from office in July 2024.

He was found guilty of crimes against humanity for the police killing of nearly 1,400 people.

This hearing was held in Hasina’s absence as she has been in exile in India since her dismissal. He denied the accusations.

Siddiq, whose mother is the former prime minister’s sister, continues to face a string of outstanding charges in Bangladesh, including two ongoing trials related to the allegations at the heart of Monday’s verdict.

He is also being investigated for allegedly transferring a flat in a lucrative area of ​​Dhaka to his sister.

Last week, Hasina was sentenced to 21 years in prison after being tried in absentia along with her two children over a land deal in the Purbachal district of the capital, parallel to the case against Siddiqui.

Siddiq and his family were also investigated over allegations of embezzlement relating to a £3.9 billion deal struck in 2013 in connection with a Russian-financed nuclear power plant deal.

Siddiq has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing regarding the allegations stemming from allegations by Hasina’s political opponent Bobby Hajjaj.

Bangladeshi officials have said they estimate around $234bn (£174bn) was seized through corruption during Hasina’s reign.

Before Siddiqui’s resignation from the British government, Sir Laurie Magnus, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s independent ethics adviser, said he had found “no evidence of impropriety” after an investigation.

But he said it was “regrettable” that Siddiq was not more careful about the “potential reputational risks” of his ties to Hasina.

While Siddiq insisted he was innocent of any wrongdoing, he left his ministerial post to avoid “distracting” the government.

The UK does not have an extradition treaty in force with Bangladesh. It is classified as a 2B country; This means clear evidence must be presented to lawyers and judges before any extradition is allowed.

Although authorities issued an arrest warrant, Siddiq was not forced by authorities to return to Dhaka for the hearing.