Dhaka issues warrant for arrest of Sheikh Hasina’s niece UK MP Tulip Siddiq

London: A Dhaka court docket on Sunday issued an arrest warrant towards ex-PM Sheikh Hasina‘s niece and UK Labour MP Tulip Siddiq for allegedly buying a 7,200-square-foot plot throughout her deposed aunt’s tenure in workplace.
Dhaka metropolitan senior particular decide Md Zakir Hossain Galib issued the warrant primarily based on cost sheets filed by Bangladesh’s Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), which sought to declare Siddiq (42), who resides in London, as a fugitive. The court docket additionally issued arrest warrants for 52 others, together with Hasina, Siddiq’s mom Rehana, her brother Radwan, and sister Azmina.
The decide set April 27 because the deadline for the implementation of the arrest warrants or the looks of the accused in court docket.
ACC DG Md Akhtar Hossain stated members of the Hasina household had secretly and illegally acquired six 10-katha plots on Road No 203 in Sector 27 of the diplomatic zone of Purbachal New Town on Dhaka outskirts, with assist from senior Rajuk officers, Bangladeshi every day “The Business Standard” reported. Hasina and her relations allegedly took possession of the plots in 2022.
“The arrest warrant would make Ms Siddiq, a sitting Labour MP, an absconding suspect wanted in a foreign criminal investigation. It would also pave the way for Bangladeshi authorities to seek her extradition,” The Daily Mail reported.
There is presently no extradition treaty between the UK and Bangladesh.
Siddiq resigned from her position because the UK’s anti-corruption minister in Jan after it emerged that she was below investigation by ACC.
The court docket had additionally issued an arrest warrant towards Hasina and her daughter Saima Wazed final Thursday in a separate probe involving different plots in Purbachal New City.
A Conservative Party spokesperson commented, “She should immediately stand down as a Labour MP.”
Siddiq’s legal professionals issued a press release saying, “Ms Siddiq is aware of nothing a couple of listening to in Dhaka referring to her and has no data of any arrest warrant that’s stated to have been issued. To be clear, there isn’t any foundation in any respect for any fees to be made towards her, and there’s completely no fact in any allegation that she obtained a plot of land in Dhaka via unlawful means.”