Bangladesh’s Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) is investigating allegations of embezzlement from infrastructure projects by the family of a Labour minister. The claims state that Tulip Siddiq, Economic Secretary to the Treasury, brokered a deal in 2013 for a nuclear power plant project in Bangladesh that saw £1bn being siphoned off into private hands. The wider investigation is focused on Siddiq’s aunt Sheikh Hasina, former Bangladeshi Prime Minister and Siddiq’s mother Sheikh Rehana Siddiq. The investigation is based on allegations made by Bobby Hajjaj, a senior political opponent of Hasina.
Hajjaj has claimed Siddiq mediated and coordinated meetings for Bangladeshi officials and the Russian Government to build the £10bn Rooppur Power Plant Project. As per the documents, the deal inflated the plant’s price by £1bn, of which 30% (approximately £3.9bn) was allegedly distributed to Siddiq and other family members through a complex banking network, and to overseas companies. Hajjaj accused Hasina’s family and Siddiq of siphoning the total amount from the project.
Siddiq, who is responsible for tackling corruption in UK financial markets, has been approached for comment. The Labour Party and the Treasury declined to comment about any allegations. Siddiq was elected MP for Hampstead and Highgate in 2015, the north London constituency neighbouring Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s seat of Holborn and St Pancras.
Since fleeing the country, Hasina has been accused of multiple crimes by the new Bangladeshi government, with arrest warrants being issued for 45 individuals, including former government ministers who also fled the country. Syed Faruk, who runs the UK branch of Hasina’s Awami League party, denied the claims, calling them “fabricated”. Hasina is wanted by Bangladesh’s International Criminal Tribunal (ICT) for her alleged involvements in “crimes against humanity” that took place during the demonstrations where hundreds were killed
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