Shafiqul Alam, the Press Secretary to Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus, has clarified that no letter has been received from Tulip Siddiq, the former UK City Minister and niece of Bangladesh’s ousted former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
The statement comes in response to a report published by The Guardian, which stated that Tulip Siddiq had written to Professor Yunus requesting a meeting during his upcoming visit to the United Kingdom.
According to the report, Tulip sought to resolve what she referred to as a “misunderstanding” regarding corruption allegations against her.
Professor Yunus is set to travel to London on Monday, June 9, and will return to Dhaka on June 14. Addressing the claim on Sunday afternoon, Shafiqul Alam stated, “We haven’t received any letter from Tulip Siddiq. We`ve been on leave since June 5.”
In its coverage, The Guardian also highlighted ongoing allegations against Tulip Siddiq, suggesting that she may have benefited from undue privileges in Bangladesh during her aunt’s tenure.
The report referenced accusations made by Bangladesh’s Anti-Corruption Commission regarding the acquisition of a 7,200-square-foot land plot allegedly involving Tulip and her mother, Sheikh Rehana.
These allegations come in the wake of major political changes in Bangladesh. Last August, Sheikh Hasina’s government was ousted following a mass uprising.
She subsequently fled to India, and proceedings for crimes against humanity have since begun against her.
Tulip Siddiq has strongly denied the allegations, and her legal representatives have dismissed them as politically motivated and unfounded. They have further claimed that relevant authorities have not attempted to engage with her directly.
During his UK visit, Chief Adviser Professor Yunus is expected to meet with King Charles III and engage in bilateral discussions with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Meetings are also scheduled with Foreign Secretary David Lammy, other senior ministers, political leaders, and influential figures from the UK’s policy and business sectors.
