The interim government has initiated efforts to seize the illegal funds allegedly amassed by Tulip Siddiq in the UK through money laundering. The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) is already working on the matter.
This information was reported by The Telegraph on Sunday (February 9).
According to the British news outlet, senior ACC officials are actively working to recover the money allegedly laundered to the UK through Tulip Siddiq during former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s tenure.
ACC Director General Akhter Hossain stated that they are in contact with multiple countries to investigate Sheikh Hasina’s family.
The Telegraph report highlighted that even after resigning from her position as the UK’s City Minister nearly a month ago, Tulip Siddiq continues to face questions regarding her links to Sheikh Hasina’s regime and her assets.
Tulip Siddiq, a UK MP, briefly held the position of City Minister, which included responsibilities related to fighting corruption. After weeks of scrutiny over a London property linked to a figure associated with Sheikh Hasina’s party, Tulip herself called for an investigation into the allegations against her.
The UK’s ethics advisor, Sir Laurie Magnus, found that Tulip had inadvertently misled the public regarding a flat she had received as a gift from an individual linked to the Awami League, Sheikh Hasina’s party. However, there was no clear evidence of financial misconduct against her.
Despite mounting pressure, Tulip Siddiq resigned from her ministerial role. In accepting her resignation, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer wrote, "I want to be clear that Sir Laurie Magnus has assured me there is no evidence of a breach of the ministerial code or any financial misconduct on your part. I recognize the difficult decision you have made to end ongoing speculation, and I want to make it clear that the door remains open for you in the future."
However, in Bangladesh, the ACC is continuing its investigation into Tulip’s alleged connections to Sheikh Hasina. The most serious allegation involves the misappropriation of £4 billion from a nuclear power plant deal with Russia, implicating Sheikh Hasina, Tulip Siddiq, and other family members.
According to sources, the ACC's money laundering investigation into Tulip spans 12 countries. However, the commission has not disclosed which countries have been approached for information. An ACC spokesperson claimed they had received assurances of cooperation from the UK, the European Union, and other nations.
Towards the end of January, officials from the UK’s National Crime Agency reportedly spent several days in Dhaka assisting ACC investigators.
Commenting on the case, ACC Director General Akhter Hossain said, "We are still investigating the allegations against Tulip Siddiq and have asked the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit to submit a report. We are also gathering evidence from foreign and other sources. Initial findings suggest that the laundered money was transferred to multiple destinations, not just the UK."
He further stated, "We are trying to send mutual legal assistance requests through the appropriate channels. Once we receive support from foreign and other sources, our team will decide the next course of action."
The ACC Director General also hinted that legal measures may be taken to recover the laundered funds from the UK or request assistance from the authorities there. Several meetings have already been held, and the investigative team is actively working to repatriate the funds through legal channels.
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Tulip Siddiq told The Telegraph that no evidence has been provided to support these allegations, and no one has contacted her regarding the matter. She has denied all claims.
