Labour Minister Tulip Siddiq named in UK Bangladesh corruption probe

DHAKA: A senior Labour minister in the UK has been implicated in a corruption investigation involving allegations that her family embezzled £3.9 billion from infrastructure projects in Bangladesh.

Tulip Siddiq, 42, who serves as Economic Secretary to the Treasury and oversees anti-corruption efforts in UK financial markets, is accused of brokering a 2013 deal with Russia for Bangladesh’s Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant that allegedly inflated the project’s cost by £1 billion, BBC reported.

Siddiq denies the allegations.

The claims form part of an investigation by Bangladesh’s Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) into her aunt, Sheikh Hasina, who was ousted as Bangladesh’s prime minister in August after more than 20 years in power. Hasina is also accused of multiple crimes, including “crimes against humanity” during her tenure.

Siddiq has not been contacted by the ACC, according to the BBC. A spokesperson for UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said Siddiq has recused herself from any decisions related to Bangladesh but continues in her ministerial role. Starmer expressed full confidence in her.

The ACC investigation extends to other members of Hasina’s family, including Siddiq’s mother, Sheikh Rehana Siddiq, and several senior officials from Hasina’s government. Arrest warrants have been issued for 45 individuals, including former Bangladeshi ministers, accused of embezzlement and other crimes.