Tulip Siddiq, former British MP and niece of Bangladesh’s ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, has written a letter requesting a meeting with Dr. Muhammad Yunus, head of Bangladesh’s interim government, during his official visit to the UK.
According to The Guardian, Tulip aims to resolve ‘misunderstandings’ arising from corruption allegations currently being investigated in Bangladesh.
The letter comes as Dr. Yunus, Nobel Peace Prize laureate and head of the transitional administration in Bangladesh, is scheduled to meet King Charles and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer during his London tour.
Tulip Siddiq expressed her desire to speak with Dr. Yunus personally in hopes of clarifying her position amid the ongoing probe.
‘A Deeply Personal and Political Matter’
In her letter, Tulip stated, "As the niece of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, I am being questioned about my relationship and involvement. I hope a conversation with you will help clear the misunderstandings that have stemmed from the Anti-Corruption Commission`s (ACC) allegations."
Emphasizing her identity she wrote, "I am a British citizen, born in London, and I have served the people of Hampstead and Highgate in the UK Parliament for the past decade. My heart is connected to Bangladesh, but I have no property or business interests there. I wasn’t born or raised there, nor is my professional life based in Bangladesh."
Tulip noted that she had attempted to clarify her position to the ACC, but the agency reportedly refused to engage with her legal team in London and instead sent communications to a random address in Dhaka.
`Weaponized Investigation and Media Leaks`
Tulip further criticized the investigation as “imaginary,” claiming every stage of it has been leaked to the media while her legal representatives were never officially contacted.
"I know you understand how important it is to ensure these reports do not hinder my responsibilities to my constituents or to the country I serve," she wrote.
Tulip believes she has become a political target. She worte "I’ve become the subject of a politically motivated smear campaign orchestrated by opponents of my aunt."
Ongoing Allegations and Political Fallout
Tulip Siddiq recently resigned from her ministerial post as Economic Secretary to the Treasury in the UK amid mounting allegations.
Reports from Bangladesh’s ACC claim she and her mother, Sheikh Rehana, misused political influence to acquire 7,200 square feet of land. Tulip has firmly denied these charges, and her lawyers have dismissed them as baseless and politically driven.
The charges stem from a complaint filed by Bobby Hajjaj, chairman of the National Democratic Movement (NDM), who accused Sheikh Hasina’s family members of embezzling large sums from state infrastructure projects.
Media reports in Bangladesh suggest an arrest warrant has been issued against Tulip. However, she claims to have received no such warrant or court summons. UK-Bangladesh extradition falls under the "2B" category, requiring strong, court-verified evidence—something Tulip’s legal team argues is lacking.
Exoneration in the UK
Following separate allegations over overseas assets, Tulip voluntarily reported herself to the UK’s ministerial ethics watchdog last year. In January, Sir Laurie Magnus cleared her of any wrongdoing, concluding that no evidence existed to suggest her assets were unlawfully acquired.
Magnus did, however, advise Tulip to be more cautious in how her familial ties to Bangladesh might affect public perception.
One focus of that probe was her presence in Moscow during a 2013 nuclear agreement between Bangladesh and Russia. While some media claimed she was involved in financial misconduct related to that deal, Tulip said she was simply visiting as a tourist. Magnus accepted this explanation and dismissed the claims.
Despite being cleared, Tulip stepped down from her UK ministerial role, stating that the continuing controversies were becoming a distraction for Keir Starmer’s new government.
