LONDON: In response to growing pressure over her ties to her aunt, Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Britain’s anti-corruption minister quit on Tuesday.
Although she had been exonerated of any wrongdoing, Tulip Siddiq said that she was leaving her position as Treasury’s economic secretary since the matter was taking time away from the government’s work.
Siddiq, 42, was elected to a north London seat in 2015 after serving as a municipal councilor. Following Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s center-left Labour Party’s resounding election victory in July, she was appointed to the government.
Since Siddiq submitted herself to the government’s ethics watchdog in early January when it was revealed that she lived in London residences connected to her aunt, Starmer has been under increasing pressure to fire her.
In a letter, Starmer expressed his sadness at Siddiq’s departure and noted that Laurie Magnus, the watchdog independent adviser on ministerial interests, had reassured him that he had not discovered any violations of the Ministerial Code or proof of financial irregularities on your side.
Siddiq was given the opportunity to rejoin the government by Starmer, who said, “The door remains open to you going forward.”
Before she was overthrown in August 2024 after a widespread revolt that left hundreds of demonstrators dead and thousands injured, Hasina served as Bangladesh’s longest-serving prime minister for 15 years. Due to the fatalities, Hasina, who has fled to India, is facing numerous legal proceedings, including some charges of crimes against humanity.
Siddiq, in charge of combating financial market misconduct, was identified last month in a Bangladeshi anti-corruption probe against Hasina. According to the investigation, Siddiq’s family allegedly facilitated a 2013 agreement with Russia for a nuclear power project in Bangladesh, where significant amounts of money were allegedly embezzled.
Magnus claimed that he took Siddiq’s claim that she was not involved in any intergovernmental talks between Russia and Bangladesh or in any official capacity at face faith.
After allegations in the Sunday Times and Financial Times newspapers claimed that the minister had utilized two London residences provided to her by members of Bangladesh’s Awami League, led by Hasina, she was further questioned about her ties to her aunt’s administration.
Magnus acknowledged that he had not examined all possibly pertinent information due to a lack of records and time, but he also stated that he had not found any indications of irregularities about the apartments.
Siddiq had not violated ministerial criteria, Magnus decided. However, he pointed out that considering her position in the government, it is unfortunate that she was not more aware of the possible harm to her and the country’s reputation that could result from her close family’s ties to Bangladesh.