Tulip Siddiq, British MP and the niece of Bangladesh’s deposed former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, has accused the chief adviser of the interim government, Dr Muhammad Yunus, and the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) of launching an “orchestrated campaign” to interfere in British politics and damage her reputation.
London-based Siddiq, who represents the UK capital’s Hampstead and Highgate constituency for the governing Labour Party, resigned as Treasury minister earlier this year after allegations of corruption against her family engulfed her.
Bangladesh’s Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) opened investigations into the Member of Parliament in connection with the government of Sheikh Hasina, ousted after a massive student-led protest last year.
In a legal notice sent by Tulip Siddiq to Dr Yunus and the ACC, she alleged that Dr Muhammad Yunus and the ACC aimed to damage her reputation.
She said the allegations were part of an attempt to interfere in UK politics—particularly in her constituency, her political party, and her role in public service—which she described as completely unacceptable.
“The time has now come for the Chief Adviser [Yunus] and the ACC to abandon their wholly misconceived and unlawful campaign to smear Ms Siddiq’s reputation and interfere with her public service,” reads a letter sent by her lawyers to Yunus.
According to ‘Sky News’, which has seen the latest correspondence, Siddiq’s legal team claims the interim leader had unfairly prejudiced the investigations against her.
Tulip sent the notice through UK-based law firm Stephenson Harwood LLP. The notice also criticizes the interim government for not responding to her previous letters.
The legal notice says that letters were sent to the ACC chairman and commissioners on March 18 and April 15, and another to Chief Adviser Dr Yunus on June 4.
“The copious briefings to the media, the failure to respond to our letters, the failure to even ask to meet with and question Ms Siddiq during their recent visit to the United Kingdom are impossible to justify and completely inconsistent with a fair, lawful and serious investigation,” reads the letter.
Siddiq had sought a meeting with Yunus during his UK visit earlier this month, which the Chief Adviser turned down, saying it involved a “legal process”.
“I will not be allowing them to drag me into their world of dirty politics and nothing is going to stop me from pursuing the job that I was elected to do with an overwhelming majority, which is representing the people of Hampstead and Highgate,” Siddiq told ‘Sky News’.
“So they need to stop this political vendetta, this smear campaign, and this malicious persecution right from the beginning,” she said.
Her latest correspondence sets a deadline of June 30 for the Bangladeshi authorities to reply, stating that “in the absence of a full and proper response… Ms Siddiq will consider this matter closed”.
Responding to the legal letter, Press Secretary of the Chief Adviser Shafiqul Alam said: “The chief adviser and the Anti-Corruption Commission ( ACC) of Bangladesh have no reason and scope to interfere in UK Politics.
“The Anti-Corruption Commission relies not on hearsay but on documentary evidence and witness testimony,” Alam said.
The press secretary added: “We hope both the British legal system and the British press appreciate that any pending criminal charge will be resolved in the courts under the provisions of laws of the land.
“Since the courts have summoned Siddiq and warrants have also been issued, it is her responsibility to defend her position in court.
“If she needs any legal support and is unable to obtain it herself, Bangladesh will provide it. If Siddiq wilfully ignores the court summons, proceedings against her may proceed in absentia.”
