UK Member of Parliament Tulip Siddiq stands outside 10 Downing Street, London, May 13, 2022.
UK Member of Parliament Tulip Siddiq stands outside 10 Downing Street, London, May 13, 2022.FILE | AP

Sheikh Hasina's niece Tulip Siddiq resigns from UK government over Bangladesh graft probe

Siddiq is an MP for a north London constituency whose ministerial job was part of the finance ministry and responsible for the UK's financial services sector as well as anti-corruption measures.
Published on

LONDON: UK's anti-corruption minister and niece of ousted Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina, Tulip Siddiq, resigned on Tuesday after being named in an investigation into the graft accusations against her aunt.

The resignation came days after Dr Muhammed Yunus, the caretaker head of Bangladesh government made serious allegations of corruption against her.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has accepted her resignation.

In a letter to Starmer, Siddiq wrote: "Sir Laurie has confirmed that I have not breached the ministerial code. As he notes, there is no evidence to suggest that I have acted improperly regarding the properties I have owned or lived in, nor any evidence to suggest that my assets derive from anything other than legitimate sources."

She further stated, "My family connections are a matter of public record. When I became a minister, I provided full details of my relationships and private interests to the government."

Siddiq acknowledged that continuing in her role as Economic Secretary could distract from the government's work. She emphasized, "My loyalty is and always will be to this Labour Government in the UK and its program for national renewal and transformation. Therefore, I have decided to resign from my ministerial position."

Siddiq had previously voluntarily referred herself to an independent watchdog.

Following consultations with officials, she was advised to declare her aunt’s position as the former prime minister of Bangladesh and to recuse herself from matters related to Bangladesh to avoid any perception of a conflict of interest.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer expressed his appreciation for Siddiq’s contributions, including her leadership in the banking hubs initiative and her efforts toward financial inclusion.

After accepting Siddiq's resignation, Starmer said, "I also want to be clear that Sir Laurie Magnus, the independent advisor, has assured me that he found no breach of the ministerial code or evidence of financial impropriety on your part. I appreciate your self-referral to the independent advisor and your full cooperation in establishing the facts. I understand your decision to step down, as the ongoing distraction could have hindered the delivery of change in Britain. I want to make it clear that your future remains open."

Dr. Neeraj Patil, a member of the UK Labour Party's National Executive Council, the highest decision-making body of the Labour Party, commented, "Once she is cleared, she will be back. She is a good local MP, well-liked by her constituents, and connects well with all communities.''

Siddiq's resignation comes at a difficult time for Starmer, with criticism also rising against his finance minister, Rachel Reeves.

Siddiq is an MP for a north London constituency whose ministerial job was part of the finance ministry and responsible for the UK's financial services sector as well as anti-corruption measures.

Over the weekend, a Sunday Times investigation revealed details about the claims that she spent years living in a London flat bought by an offshore company connected to two Bangladeshi businessmen.

The flat was eventually transferred as a gift to a Bangladeshi lawyer with links to Hasina, her family and her ousted government, according to the newspaper. It also reported Siddiq and her family were given or used several other London properties bought by members or associates of Hasina's Awami League party.

An independent adviser on UK ministerial standards reported on Tuesday that he had not found any "evidence of improprieties" linked to Siddiq. But he said it was "regrettable" that she "was not more alert to the potential reputational risks" of her close family's association with Bangladesh.

Siddiq's ties to "one of the principal families involved in Bangladesh politics" had "exposed her to allegations of misconduct by association."

(With inputs from AFP)

X
The New Indian Express
www.newindianexpress.com