Tulip Siddiq, a UK MP and niece of Sheikh Hasina, denounces allegations of financial misconduct tied to the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant as baseless. Her legal team calls for an immediate halt to these claims while asserting there is no evidence against her. In contrast, Bangladesh’s Anti-Corruption Commission maintains its investigation is credible, citing documentary evidence.
Former Labour Minister Tulip Siddiq, who is also the niece of Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, has accused Bangladeshi authorities of orchestrating a “targeted and baseless” campaign against her. Siddiq is urging an immediate cessation of harmful allegations regarding her involvement in financial irregularities linked to the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant, constructed with assistance from Russia.
Siddiq’s legal team from Stephenson Harwood has demanded that the accusations be retracted, emphasizing her lack of involvement in the nuclear plant deal despite her presence at a 2013 signing ceremony in the Kremlin with Sheikh Hasina and Russian President Vladimir Putin. They highlighted that it is common for family members to accompany Heads of State on official visits.
The letter from her lawyers also dismissed claims that a London flat gifted to Siddiq in 2004 was associated with embezzlement, labeling such allegations as “absurd” since the property was acquired ten years before the nuclear agreement. Siddiq, whose background includes having a father who was a university professor in Dhaka and a mother who sought political asylum in the UK, resigned from her role addressing UK financial corruption in January.
In contrast, the Chairman of Bangladesh’s Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), Mohammad Abdul Momen, stated to the BBC that the allegations are not unfounded and are based on documented corruption evidence. He invited Siddiq to defend herself in court with legal representation.
The conflict originated from remarks by the Chief Adviser of Bangladesh, suggesting Siddiq’s potential involvement in embezzlement concerning the Rooppur project, indicating that she could be summoned for questioning. Concerns were raised regarding her supposed wealth in Bangladesh that would warrant inquiry.
Siddiq’s legal representatives have vigorously refuted these claims, asserting there is no evidence against her. They criticized the suggestion that she may be summoned as “completely unjustified,” arguing that such statements reflect a broader campaign aimed at undermining her reputation.
The controversy arises from a media statement from the ACC in February 2025, which reported $5 billion in financial irregularities within the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant project, implicating Siddiq alongside prominent figures like Sheikh Hasina and her son in offshore financial misconduct.
In conclusion, Tulip Siddiq has firmly denied allegations of financial misconduct related to the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant project, arguing that the accusations stem from a targeted campaign to damage her reputation. Her legal team insists that there is no case against her and has condemned the allegations as baseless, while the ACC claims to have substantial documentary evidence supporting their investigation. The situation reflects a significant conflict between Siddiq’s assertions and the Bangladeshi authorities’ stance on the matter.
Original Source: www.newindianexpress.com
