Second Conviction for British Lawmaker
Former UK Treasury minister and Labour MP Tulip Siddiq has been sentenced to four years imprisonment by a Bangladeshi court on corruption charges. The verdict marks the second conviction against the British politician in less than a year.
Labour Party Denounces Trial Proceedings
Labour Party representatives have strongly criticized the judicial process, stating Siddiq was denied fair legal representation. “The defendant has never received formal notification of the specific allegations against her despite multiple requests through legal channels,” a party spokesperson stated. “Fundamental rights to legal defense must be upheld in all cases, which regrettably didn’t occur here.”
Earlier Corruption Verdict
This latest sentence follows a separate two-year conviction issued in December 2025, where Siddiq was found guilty of improperly influencing land acquisition near Dhaka. The Hampstead and Highgate parliamentarian maintains her innocence, characterizing both trials as “fundamentally flawed proceedings from start to finish.”
“The complete lack of communication from Bangladeshi authorities throughout this 18-month ordeal remains inexplicable,” Siddiq commented following the verdict. “These persistent accusations bear no relation to reality.”
Political Fallout and Family Ties
Siddiq resigned from her ministerial position in January 2025 following scrutiny over her connections to aunt Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh’s ousted former prime minister. While an ethics investigation found no evidence of misconduct, officials noted concerns about perceived conflicts of interest regarding London properties linked to Hasina’s political network.
In her resignation statement, Siddiq asserted she had “maintained complete transparency” but chose to depart government service to prevent becoming “an unnecessary distraction.”
Ousted Leader’s Legal Challenges
The sentences against Siddiq coincide with related convictions against Hasina and two additional family members. The former leader, who governed Bangladesh for 15 years before fleeing to India during 2024 political unrest, previously received a death sentence for alleged human rights violations during student protests.
Hasina has consistently denounced all charges as “politically motivated judicial actions,” maintaining that the cases lack legitimate foundation. All defendants were tried in absentia and have denied all allegations.
