A Bangladesh court has directed authorities to request an Interpol ‘Red Notice’ for the arrest of British MP Tulip Rizwana Siddiq, the niece of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, on corruption charges. The order came from Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Sabbir Faiz following an appeal by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). The ACC sought the ‘Red Notice’ against Tulip, a member of the UK’s Labour Party, alleging misuse of her aunt’s influence.
The appeal detailed that Tulip Siddiq allegedly used her connection to Hasina to acquire a flat in Dhaka unlawfully without payment by exerting influence on a legal officer. Reports indicate that a case has been filed against Tulip Siddiq in this regard, but as she is currently overseas, the ACC believes an Interpol ‘Red Notice’ is necessary for her apprehension. This development is seen as part of the ongoing political rivalry between the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) government and the Awami League.
In a separate incident, a Dhaka court recently sentenced Hasina to 10 years in prison in a corruption case related to the Purbachal plot scam, while Tulip Siddiq received a four-year jail term. The court also sentenced Hasina to five years in prison in another case involving irregularities in plot allocations under the Purbachal project. Hasina’s family members, including her sister Sheikh Rehana and niece Tulip Siddiq, have faced imprisonment in connection with various corruption cases.
Following these verdicts, Hasina and her family members have vehemently denied the corruption allegations, labeling them as politically motivated and lacking substantial evidence. They have criticized the ACC, claiming bias and unfair treatment under the current government.
