Tulip Siddiq sentenced to two-year prison term in Bangladesh: Here’s why

UK Labour MP Tulip Siddiq has been sentenced to two years in Bangladesh as per the court’s recent decision.

The former minister was being put on trial in absentia alongside 16 other people on the grounds of corruption allegations linked to her aunt, Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh’s ousted former PM.

The 43-old-year MP was accused of using her influence over her aunt. She helped Sheikh Hasina to get a plot of land for her family outside Dhaka.

Court documents claim that Siddiq “forced and influenced her aunt and the former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina using her special power to secure [a plot of land] for her mother Rehana Siddiq, sister Azmina Siddiq and brother Radwan Siddiq.”

As a result of the verdict, Siddiq has been given a two-years prison sentence and a 100,000 Bangladeshi Taka fine. In the case of non-compliance in paying the fine, she will be obliged to serve 6 more months as a part of the sentence.

In addition, the sitting MP for Hampstead and Highgate also faces plenty of charges in Bangladesh.

According to Bangladesh’s Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), Siddiq also had been put on trial as a Bangladeshi citizen as authorities had taken her passport, ID and tax number.

On the contrary, Siddiq’s lawyer disputed this claim, claiming it “she has not held a passport since she was a child.”

Siddiq rejected all the allegations of her association with any kind of corruption. According to her, she has not been informed of the charges pressed against her nor was she given any access to legal representation.

As reported by The Guardian, Siddiq issued a statement after the verdict, “This whole process has been flawed and farcical from the beginning to the end.

“The outcome of this kangaroo court is as predictable as it is unjustified. I hope this so-called ‘verdict’ will be treated with the contempt it deserves,” she added.

It is highly unlikely that Siddiq will serve the awarded sentence as the UK has not signed an extradition treaty with Bangladesh.

The verdict came on the heels of awarding a death sentence to Sheikh Hasina over the charges of crimes against humanity related to last year’s brutal crackdown on student protests.