Labour MP Tulip Siddiq hits out at 'farce' anti-corruption trial in Bangladesh

Labour MP Tulip Siddiq has called her anti-corruption trial a “farce” which is “driven by a clear political agenda” as proceedings began on Wednesday in Bangladesh.

In a statement seen by Sky News, Ms Siddiq has said the case was “built on fabricated accusations”.

Ms Siddiq was formerly the UK government’s anti-corruption minister but stood down over accusations she illegally received a plot of land in a new high-end development on the outskirts of Dhaka, Bangladesh’s capital.

This came after her aunt, Sheikh Hasina, was ousted as prime minister last year and replaced by the current government.

Hundreds of protesters were killed during the uprising and Ms Hasina now faces charges including crimes against humanity.

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Ms Siddiq previously denied all the allegations against her through lawyers, saying the prosecution is politically motivated.

Bangladesh’s Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) claims the Labour MP received a 7,200-square-foot plot in a diplomatic zone through “abuse of power and influence”.

The trial in Dhaka began in the early hours of UK time, with Ms Siddiq on trial alongside her mother and siblings. The family are being tried in absentia as they have not returned to Bangladesh for the proceedings.

The court opened with ACC prosecutors laying out the case against Ms Siddiq.

In her statement, Ms Siddiq said: “The so-called trial now under way in Dhaka is nothing more than a farce, built on fabricated accusations and driven by a clear political vendetta.

“Over the past year, the allegations against me have repeatedly shifted, yet I have never been contacted by the Bangladeshi authorities once. I have never received a court summons, no official communication, and no evidence.

“If this were a genuine legal process, the authorities would have engaged with me or my legal team, responded to our formal correspondence, and presented the evidence they claim to hold.

“Instead, they have peddled false and vexatious allegations that have been briefed to the media but never formally put to me by investigators.

“Even my offer to meet Bangladesh’s chief adviser Muhammad Yunus during his recent visit to London was refused. Such conduct is wholly incompatible with the principles of a fair trial that we uphold in the UK.

“I have been clear from the outset that I have done nothing wrong and will respond to any credible evidence that is presented to me. Continuing to smear my name to score political points is both baseless and damaging.”

Responding to Ms Siddiq’s statement, Bangladeshi Prosecutor Mohammad Sultan Mahmud highlighted the difference between the British and Bangladeshi legal system.

This includes Ms Siddiq only being able to receive a court summons if she returns to Bangladesh.

Sky News understands the MP’s lawyer requested to attend the trial in Bangladesh on her behalf but was denied access.

We also understand the Bangladeshi authorities did not tell Ms Siddiq of a date change for the trial, and she only found out when Sky News contacted her lawyer about it.

On the other points, Mr Mahmud denied there was any political motivation to the case.

He added that Mr Yunus likely rejected meeting Ms Siddiq due to a busy schedule and not wanting to interfere in the proceedings.

The prosecutor went on to claim he had “a lot of evidence” against Ms Siddiq and her family, and intends to bring further cases against her.

A separate anti-corruption allegation into Ms Siddiq’s family has also been launched, with allegations they were involved in brokering a 2013 deal with Russia for a nuclear power plant in Bangladesh, in which large sums of money were said to have been embezzled.

Ms Siddiq’s aunt, Ms Hasina, was ousted last year following student protests, having been in power for more than a decade. She has since fled to India.

Hundreds of protesters were killed during the uprising, and Ms Hasina now faces charges including crimes against humanity.

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Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus took over as interim leader and vowed to prosecute Ms Hasina.

Allegations have also been made about Ms Siddiq and a house she rents in north London, which is owned by a businessman reportedly linked to Ms Hasina’s Awami League Party.