The worlds of British politics and Bangladeshi law have collided dramatically as Labour MP Tulip Siddiq faces a harsh sentence from her native country.
The MP for Hampstead and Highgate has been sentenced in absentia to four years in prison by a court in Bangladesh, over allegations involving the acquisition of prime land in Dhaka.
The Land Controversy
Siddiq, who previously served as a City Minister in the UK, was accused of trying to secure plots of land in Purbachal New Town Project, one of Dhaka’s most exclusive residential areas, for her family members.
This new ruling comes barely a month after the same court sentenced her to two years on related corruption charges.
The MP has consistently criticized these proceedings, calling them “unfair” and a “kangaroo court.”
Back in December, she said: “The outcome of this kangaroo court is as predictable as it is unjustified. I refuse to be distracted by the dirty politics of Bangladesh.”
Family Members Also Sentenced
Monday’s hearing didn’t just affect Siddiq.
Her siblings, Azmina Siddiq, 34, and Radwan Siddiq, 45, were each sentenced to seven years in prison.
Both siblings live in the UK and were found guilty of illegally acquiring roughly a third of an acre each in Purbachal, intended for residential development.
Additionally, the court imposed fines: Siddiq was ordered to pay £593, and her siblings just under £1,200 each.
Failure to pay would add six months to their respective sentences.
Former Bangladeshi PM Implicated
In a further twist, Sheikh Hasina Wazed, former Prime Minister of Bangladesh and Siddiq’s aunt, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for her role in allocating land to her extended family.
Hasina, who ruled Bangladesh for 15 years before being toppled in August 2023, is now living in exile in India.
Purbachal, situated north of Dhaka, has become not only a highly exclusive residential zone but also the city’s emerging diplomatic enclave, making the allegations particularly sensitive.
Allegations of Political Influence
The court heard how Siddiq allegedly leveraged her position as a British MP to pressure her aunt into allocating plots of land to her brother, sister, and her 69-year-old mother, Rehana, who is also a British citizen.
Bangladesh’s Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) argued that her siblings had violated laws by hiding ownership of other properties in Dhaka, which would have disqualified them from acquiring land in Purbachal.
Under Bangladeshi law, relatives of sitting ministers or government officials cannot buy property in Purbachal if they already own land elsewhere in the capital.
Siddiq has consistently denied the charges, calling them a political witch-hunt.
A Career Marred by Scrutiny
Siddiq resigned from her ministerial post in January last year, shortly after media reports revealed she was under investigation by the ACC regarding alleged bribes tied to a Russian-built nuclear power plant deal.
She denied all wrongdoing.
Separately, a UK Parliamentary watchdog investigated claims that Siddiq and her family owned London flats gifted by supporters of Hasina.
While she was cleared of any misconduct, the report noted potential reputational risks from her Bangladeshi political connections.
Labour Party Response
A Labour Party spokesperson defended Siddiq, stating: “Tulip Siddiq has not had access to a fair legal process in this case and has never been informed of the details of the charges against her.
Anyone facing charges should be allowed to make legal representations, which has not happened here.”
Labour sources confirmed there are no plans to remove her party membership or open disciplinary action, citing serious concerns over the integrity and fairness of the Bangladeshi proceedings.
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