British Labour MP Tulip Siddiq faces an arrest warrant issued by a Bangladeshi court. The country’s Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) accuses her of illegally obtaining land while her aunt Sheikh Hasina, the former Prime Minister, was in power. The warrant targets Siddiq and over 50 others, including her mother and Hasina. After Hasina resigned in August 2024 and left Bangladesh, the government broadened its investigation into corruption during her tenure.
Siddiq denies all allegations and condemns the move as politically motivated. However, the case has raised complex diplomatic and legal issues. Since Bangladesh and the UK lack a formal extradition treaty, any potential legal action faces significant obstacles. As tensions grow, observers closely monitor Siddiq’s political future and the UK government’s response.
Who is Tulip Siddiq?
Tulip Siddiq, a member of the British Labour Party, has represented Hampstead and Highgate in Parliament since 2015. Born in London in 1982, she is the daughter of Sheikh Rehana and the niece of Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh’s former Prime Minister. Her grandfather, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, was the founding father and first president of Bangladesh.
Siddiq studied at University College London and King’s College London before beginning her political career as a Camden councillor. She later became a Member of Parliament and served as Economic Secretary to the Treasury and City Minister from July 2024 until January 2025. She resigned amid the corruption investigation involving her family in Bangladesh.
Allegations against Tulip Siddiq
Siddiq faces corruption charges in Bangladesh. She allegedly participated in land transactions during her aunt Sheikh Hasina’s rule. The ACC claims that Siddiq and her relatives acquired valuable plots of land in Dhaka illegally.
According to the ACC, Hasina and her family received a half-acre plot in Purbachal, a proposed township near Dhaka, without proper documentation. Siddiq has also been accused of using her political influence to secure three plots of land in Dhaka’s diplomatic area for her mother Sheikh Rehana, brother Radwan, and sister Azmina, all of whom reside in the UK.
These allegations form part of a broader investigation into Hasina’s government. The ACC is also investigating the alleged embezzlement of £3.9 billion (Rs 44,148 crore) from national infrastructure funds during Hasina’s tenure.
Arrest wrrant and legal proceedings
On April 13, 2025, Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Zakir Hossain Galib issued the arrest warrant after reviewing three ACC cases. The warrant targets Siddiq, her aunt Hasina, her mother Rehana, and other individuals connected to the previous government.
The ACC asserts that it has gathered substantial documentary evidence to support its case. ACC chairman Mohammad Abdul Momen told the BBC that the corruption charges are serious and that Siddiq must face legal proceedings in Bangladesh.
However, Siddiq’s lawyers deny any wrongdoing. They argue that the ACC has not contacted her nor provided any evidence to support the charges. Siddiq’s legal team points out that she does not own property in Bangladesh and has never used her political influence to secure land.
The case presents significant legal and diplomatic challenges. Siddiq is a British citizen and a sitting MP, and Bangladesh and the UK lack an extradition agreement, making it unlikely that Bangladesh can force her to return for trial.
The UK classifies Bangladesh as a 2B extradition country, meaning any request for extradition would require approval from UK ministers and judges. To proceed, Bangladesh would need to present credible evidence.
Siddiq’s lawyers argue that she has not received formal notification of the arrest warrant and contend that the charges are part of a political strategy aimed at damaging her reputation and distracting from Bangladesh’s internal problems following Hasina’s departure.
Political responses in Britain
The arrest warrant has sparked strong political reactions in the UK. Siddiq, who served as anti-corruption minister under Keir Starmer, resigned in January 2025 amid the Bangladesh corruption probe.
The resignation followed an investigation by Starmer’s ethics adviser, Sir Laurie Magnus, who found no evidence of direct wrongdoing but criticized Siddiq for failing to consider the reputational risks posed by her family’s political involvement in Bangladesh.
Magnus emphasized that, as a minister promoting ethical standards in UK finance, Siddiq should have been more cautious. Her resignation aimed to prevent any distractions for the government.
Conservative party demands accountability
The Conservative Party quickly seized the political opportunity. A spokesperson criticized Keir Starmer for not immediately removing Siddiq from her position as MP in light of the international arrest warrant.
“If it’s true that Keir Starmer’s anti-corruption minister is the target of an arrest warrant, she must resign immediately as Labour MP,” the spokesperson stated. They also condemned Starmer for suggesting that Siddiq could return to a government role.
In addition to the land allegations, Siddiq has faced questions about her involvement in a nuclear deal with Russia. Opponent Bobby Hajjaj accused Siddiq of negotiating an inflated contract for a nuclear power plant in Bangladesh in 2013. While this charge has not led to formal legal action, it has fueled perceptions that Siddiq used her political influence for personal and foreign benefit.
Crossroads for South Asian Diplomacy and Siddiq
Tulip Siddiq now finds herself at the center of an international controversy. She denies the allegations, but the association with corruption and land deals threatens her political career. The case also strains UK-Bangladesh relations, especially given the absence of an extradition treaty and the political sensitivities surrounding the matter.
As the case unfolds, both nations will need to carefully navigate legal processes while managing the potential diplomatic fallout. For Siddiq, the fight for her reputation and political future may prove just as critical as any legal battle.
