The trial of UK Labour MP Tulip Siddiq has officially begun in Bangladesh, where she faces serious corruption allegations alongside 20 others, including close family members.
Siddiq, who represents Hampstead and Highgate, is accused of using her influence over her aunt, former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, to illegally obtain a plot of land in Dhaka’s Purbachal area for her mother, sister, and brother.
Bangladeshi prosecutors claim this violated laws that prohibit allocation of public land to individuals who already own property in or around the capital. If convicted, Siddiq could face lifetime imprisonment.
The MP did not attend the hearing, calling the case a “farce” built on “fabricated accusations” and driven by a “political vendetta.” Her lawyers argue she does not currently hold Bangladeshi citizenship or valid national documents—claims the Anti-Corruption Commission disputes, citing records of a passport, national ID, and tax number.
This comes after Sheikh Hasina fled to India in 2024 following her ousting amid deadly student protests. The high-profile trial is drawing international attention, as Siddiq continues to deny all allegations.
