Photo: Collected
Properties of Tulip Siddiq, UK's anti-corruption minister, might come under investigation by Britain's top crime agency as part of an international hunt for billions allegedly laundered by the Awami League regime led by her aunt, ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina.
According to a report by UK media The Times on 6 January, the UK's National Crime Agency's International Corruption Unit has been aiding authorities in Bangladesh to identify properties bought using money laundered out of the country during Hasina's rule.
The flat owned by Siddiq, gifted to her by a businessman close to the regime, could well be in scope, as could the house in which she lives, which is owned by a political ally of Hasina, a source familiar with the investigation told The Times.
According to the report, the Bangladesh Bank is working with British law enforcement agencies to bring back money embezzled by some allies of the previous regime. Officials from the National Crime Agency (NCA) and from HMRC are believed to have visited Dhaka to support the work of investigators late last year, The Times said.
A source familiar with the investigation said, "It concerns hundreds of millions of pounds laundered from Bangladesh by purchasing properties in London. The properties which Siddiq now owns could well be in scope here.
"Her behaviour is naive at best. And there is a potential conflict of interest with her responsibilities cracking down on money laundering in the City."
A spokesman for the NCA said the agency does not routinely confirm or deny the existence of investigations. Senior representatives of the Bangladesh Bank have also discussed general seizure and return of assets to the country in a meeting late last year.
The Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) has been leading efforts to freeze bank accounts and seize assets of those it suspects of wrongdoing.
On 7 January, the BFIU asked for bank account details of Tulip Siddiq.
The anti-money laundering agency has also sought details of the accounts of her family members, including Tulip's sister Azmina Siddique, her brother Radwan Mujib Siddiq and mother Sheikh Rehana.
The BFIU had previously sought bank account information of Sheikh Hasina, her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy and daughter Saima Wazed.
Earlier on 24 December, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) wrote to the BFIU, seeking all documents related to local and international transactions of Sheikh Hasina, her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy, her younger sister Sheikh Rehana, alongside Tulip Siddiq.
This information was requested as part of an inquiry into allegations of Tk21,000 crore embezzlement from eight projects against them.
According to The Times, the anti-graft watchdog said it would investigate claims that Siddiq brokered and benefited from a nuclear power deal Bangladesh signed with Russia in 2013. Siddiq says she is the victim of "trumped-up" charges.
A UK Treasury spokesman said, "The economic secretary [Tulip] is not involved in policy-making that has a direct link to Bangladesh.
"The minister has not been involved with any decisions relating to Bangladesh since entering government and will not be in future as she recuses herself to avoid any perceived conflicts of interest.
"Her interests are publicly disclosed as part of the list of ministers' interests."
Messenger/JRTarek
