Bangladesh’s court sentenced UK lawmaker Tulip Siddiq in absentia to two years in jail on Monday. The ruling is part of a corruption case involving the alleged illegal allocation of land in Dhaka.
Tulip Siddiq, who resigned in January as Britain’s minister responsible for financial services and anti-corruption efforts, criticized the trial. She described the process as “flawed and farcical” and called it the outcome of a “kangaroo court.” She urged the verdict to be treated with contempt.
Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Siddiq’s aunt, was sentenced in absentia to five years in jail. Hasina’s sister Rehana received a seven-year sentence. Hasina fled to India in August 2024 during an uprising against her government and was sentenced to death last month over her administration’s violent crackdown on protesters.
A Labour Party spokesperson said Tulip Siddiq was denied a fair legal process and was not informed about the details of the charges. They emphasized that every individual should have the right to legal representation when facing allegations. Britain does not have an extradition treaty with Bangladesh, making Siddiq’s imprisonment unlikely.
The case involves a 13,610 square feet plot in Dhaka, allegedly allocated illegally through political influence and collusion with senior officials. The land was intended for a new township to address the city’s housing needs. The court fined Siddiq, Hasina, and Rehana 100,000 taka ($820) each, with an additional six-month prison term if the fines are not paid.
Fourteen other people charged in the case were sentenced to five years in prison. Hasina’s Awami League party described the verdict as politically motivated, targeting the former government.
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Tulip Siddiq’s sentencing has attracted international attention due to her position as a UK lawmaker and the broader political context in Bangladesh. The case underscores tensions between legal accountability and political influence in the region.
