Social journalist
PA MediaAmerican MP and former Labour secretary Tulip Siddiq have been on an arrest warrant in Bangladesh.
As part of its wider investigation into the routine of her uncle, Sheikh Hasina, who was ousted as prime minister in August, the nation’s Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC ) has been looking into claims Siddiq allegedly received land illegally.
The arrest permit included the names of the Hampstead and Highgate MPs who left their positions as financial minister to the Treasury in January.
The costs, according to Siddiq’s attorneys, were “politically motivated.”
The attorneys continued, adding that the ACC had never presented any proof or given Siddiq any information regarding an arrest warrant.
Bangladesh is designated as a 2B abduction country by the UK, which means that ministries and judges may provide compelling evidence before making a decision.
The ACC is looking into allegations that Sheikh Hasina and her home allegedly cheated up to £3.9 billion from Bangladesh’s system.
A number of allegations were made by Bobby Hajjaj, a social rival of Hasina, to support the research.
Court records uncovered by the BBC reveal that Hajjaj accuses Siddiq of helping to broker a deal with Russia in 2013 that exaggerated the cost of a new Bangladesh nuclear power plant.
Siddiq’s attorneys Stephenson Harwood stated in a statement released by the BBC that:” The complaints have been dealt with in writing by Siddiq’s professionals.
Siddiq has been subject to no direct communication from the ACC or representation from her attorneys.
” Siddiq is unaware of any arrest warrant that is said to have been issued, and she is unaware of any hearings that have taken place in Dhaka involving her.”
To be clear, there is no evidence to support any claims brought against her, and it is impossible to refute any claims that she received a plot of land in Dhaka through illegal means.
She has not owned a plot of land in Bangladesh, and she has never had an impact on how many plots of land are distributed to her family members or anyone else.
No evidence has been provided by the ACC to back up this or any other claim made against Siddiq, and it is obvious that the allegations are politically motivated.
Siddiq had spoken with Sir Laurie Magnus, the PM’s morality director, before resigning when the fraud allegations first surfaced.
In his report, Sir Laurie claimed to have” not identified proof of indiscretions.”
He added that Siddiq should have been more aware of the potential social challenges posed by her ties to her uncle Sheikh Hasina, the deposed Bangladeshi prime minister and Awami League party.
ACC chairman Mohammad Abdul Momen has previously told the BBC the allegations “are by no means ‘targeted and baseless'” and its investigation was “based on documentary evidence of corruption”.
Tulip Siddiq “must never avoid the jury trials in Bangladesh.”
Siddiq will be welcomed to support her event, and she will be supported by the best possible legal team, he continued.
He also refuted her prosecutor’s claims that the ACC was influencing British politics, saying that “ACC presentation to the media is a regular occurrence, it is delivered properly and with all accuracy.”