Tulip Requests Meeting with Yunus Over Graft Allegations
Former UK City Minister Tulip Siddiq has requested a meeting with Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus during his upcoming London visit to resolve a “misunderstanding” stemming from corruption allegations made by his administration, which prompted her resignation from the UK government. Tulip, whose aunt Sheikh Hasina faces trial in absentia for crimes against humanity during her 15-year tenure as Bangladesh’s prime minister, has been accused by Dhaka authorities of benefiting from the former regime. The country’s Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) alleges that Tulip or her mother received a 7,200 sq ft plot of land through “abuse of power and influence.” Tulip denies these claims, with her legal team calling them “politically motivated” and baseless. She says she has not been contacted by Bangladeshi authorities regarding the allegations.
Last year, Tulip was cleared of wrongdoing by the UK’s adviser on ministerial standards, Laurie Magnus, but resigned as Economic Secretary to the Treasury and City Minister to avoid distracting Keir Starmer’s government. In a letter to Yunus, a Nobel Prize-winning economist and interim leader of Bangladesh, Tulip seeks to discuss the controversy during his London visit, where he will meet King Charles and Prime Minister Keir Starmer, reports The Guardian. In her letter, Tulip writes: “I hope a meeting can clarify the misunderstanding perpetuated by the ACC in Dhaka that I have questions to answer regarding my aunt, former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. I am a UK citizen, born in London, and have represented Hampstead and Highgate in Parliament for a decade. I have no property or business interests in Bangladesh. While the country is dear to me, it is not where I was born, live, or have built my career.”
She adds: “The ACC has not engaged with my legal team in London and sends correspondence to an unrelated address in Dhaka. Every move in this investigation is briefed to the media, yet no direct engagement has been facilitated with my lawyers. I trust you’ll understand the importance of ensuring these reports do not distract from my work for my constituents and country.” The ACC is investigating claims that Sheikh Hasina and her family embezzled billions from infrastructure projects. Tulip insists she is the target of a “politically motivated smear campaign” by her aunt’s opponents. Last month, reports surfaced of an arrest warrant issued for Tulip in Bangladesh, though she claims no knowledge of any warrant or required court appearances. As a 2B extradition country, the UK requires clear evidence from Bangladesh before any arrest can be made.
In 2023, Tulip referred herself to the ministerial standards adviser over allegations about her UK property acquisitions. Magnus found no evidence of illicitly derived assets but noted she could have been more mindful of reputational risks tied to her family’s Bangladeshi connections. The inquiry also examined her presence at a 2013 nuclear deal signing in Moscow between Hasina and Vladimir Putin, amid media claims of embezzlement. Magnus accepted Tulip’s explanation that she was in Moscow socially and as a tourist. Last month, the National Crime Agency froze nearly £90m in luxury London properties linked to two men associated with Hasina.
