London, December 02, 2025
Tulip Siddiq, a Labour MP in the United Kingdom and niece of former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, has been convicted in Bangladesh for corruption related to illegal land acquisition in Dhaka’s diplomatic zone, receiving a two-year prison sentence and a fine on December 1, 2025.
Legal Proceedings and Sentencing
Bangladesh authorities issued an arrest warrant for Siddiq on April 13, 2025, as part of a broader investigation into corruption tied to Sheikh Hasina’s tenure as Prime Minister. Siddiq was tried in absentia on August 11, 2025, alongside 26 others for allegedly receiving diplomatic zone plots through abuse of power and influence. On the 1st of December, Siddiq was sentenced to two years in prison and fined 100,000 Bangladeshi Taka (approximately £620). The court ruled that failure to pay the fine will result in an additional six months of imprisonment.
Allegations and Political Background
The charges center on Siddiq’s alleged illegal acquisition of land in Dhaka’s highly valuable diplomatic area. Authorities claim the land was transferred to her while her aunt, Sheikh Hasina, was in power, allegedly abusing her political influence. These developments come amid ongoing scrutiny of corruption involving high-profile figures connected to the former Bangladeshi government, from which Sheikh Hasina was removed.
Response and UK Political Context
Throughout the investigation and trial process, Siddiq has maintained her innocence, with her legal representatives contending that the charges are politically motivated and unsupported by evidence presented by Bangladesh’s Anti-Corruption Commission. Siddiq resigned from her ministerial role in the UK government on January 14, 2025, though UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer affirmed that no evidence of financial wrongdoing had emerged from any UK-based investigations. Siddiq continues to serve as a Labour Member of Parliament in the United Kingdom.
This conviction marks a significant development in the complex intersection of politics and legal accountability spanning Bangladesh and the UK, highlighting ongoing challenges faced by individuals linked to past governance amid allegations of corruption and misuse of power.