DHAKA: A Bangladesh court has sentenced British lawmaker Tulip Siddiq to two years in jail in a land corruption case. Local media reported that the sentence was issued in absentia. The case involves allegations of the illegal allocation of a residential plot. Siddiq, her aunt and former Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina, and Hasina’s sister Sheikh Rehana were all listed as co-accused. However, none of them appeared before the court during the verdict announcement.
Former Prime Minister Hasina Receives Lengthy Sentences
According to reports, Sheikh Hasina received a five-year jail term, while Sheikh Rehana was handed a seven-year sentence. Hasina fled to India in August 2024 during a major uprising against her government. She was sentenced to death last month for ordering a violent crackdown on protesters. Furthermore, she received a combined 21-year prison term last week in several other corruption cases. Most of the 17 individuals charged in the land allocation case were absent when the judgment was delivered.
Prosecutors Allege Abuse of Authority in Land Allocation
Prosecutors argued that the land plot was unlawfully allocated through political influence and coordination with senior officials. They claimed the accused used their authority to obtain the 13,610-square-foot plot during Hasina’s tenure. The prosecution insisted that the allocation violated legal procedures and represented a clear abuse of power. The court considered these allegations while issuing its sentences.
Tulip Siddiq Rejects Charges as Politically Motivated
Tulip Siddiq resigned in January as the UK minister overseeing financial services and anti-corruption efforts. Her resignation followed scrutiny of her financial links to Hasina. Siddiq has consistently denied the allegations, calling them a politically motivated attempt to damage her reputation. Britain currently has no extradition treaty with Bangladesh, making her return for legal proceedings unlikely.
