Bangladeshi Court Convicts Tulip Siddiq and Ousted PM Hasina in Corruption Case

A Bangladeshi court convicted British lawmaker Tulip Siddiq, her aunt ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, and Hasina’s sister Rehana in absentia over the alleged illegal allocation of land in Dhaka. Siddiq received two years, Hasina five, and Rehana seven. Siddiq and her party condemned the trial as unfair, while Hasina called it politically motivated. Bangladesh’s interim government will notify British authorities, though no extradition treaty exists. The ruling comes amid ongoing political tensions ahead of elections in February.

A court in Bangladesh has convicted British lawmaker and former minister Tulip Siddiq in absentia, alongside her aunt, the country’s ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in a high-profile corruption case that has drawn international attention. The case revolves around allegations that a plot of land in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, was illegally allocated. The land was initially intended to support a new township aimed at easing the city’s housing pressure, but the court found that Hasina misused her powers as prime minister to benefit family members. Siddiq was accused of influencing her aunt to secure the plot for her mother and two siblings, a claim that has sparked strong reactions from both the UK and Bangladesh.

The court handed Siddiq a two-year prison sentence in absentia. Hasina, who has been residing in India since fleeing Bangladesh following the violent uprising last year, was sentenced to five years in jail. Her sister Rehana received a seven-year sentence, also in absentia. This latest ruling adds to Hasina’s already precarious legal situation, as she had previously been sentenced to death last month over her role in the crackdown on the uprising, which the United Nations reported resulted in the deaths of up to 1,400 people. The combination of these rulings has further heightened tensions within Bangladesh and drawn significant international scrutiny.

Tulip Siddiq, who resigned in January from her role as Britain’s minister for financial services and anti-corruption efforts amid scrutiny over her financial ties to Hasina, condemned the verdict. She described the trial as “flawed and farcical” and stressed that her focus has always remained on her constituents in Hampstead and Highgate. In a statement, Siddiq refused to be distracted by what she described as the “dirty politics of Bangladesh,” emphasizing her commitment to public service in the UK.

A spokesperson for Siddiq’s Labour Party criticized the legal process in Bangladesh, highlighting that she was not given a fair opportunity to access the details of the charges or to make legal representations. The spokesperson stated, “Anyone facing any charge should always be afforded the right to make legal representations when allegations are made against them. Given that has not happened in this case, we cannot recognize this judgment.” This statement underscores concerns about procedural fairness and the independence of the judiciary in politically sensitive cases.

Bangladesh’s interim government has indicated that prosecutors will formally notify British authorities of the verdict. However, there is currently no extradition treaty between Britain and Bangladesh, meaning Siddiq is unlikely to face imprisonment in the UK.

Hasina herself condemned the ruling, arguing that while no country is free from corruption, investigations must be conducted fairly and without bias. She specifically criticized the Bangladesh Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), stating that it “failed that test today.” Meanwhile, her political party, the Awami League, described the ruling as politically motivated, labeling it as another example of a process driven by “desperate, unelected men” — a reference to the interim government headed by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus.

As Bangladesh prepares for national elections scheduled for February next year, this high-profile verdict adds to the political uncertainty and underscores the deep divisions within the country. The convictions of Siddiq, Hasina, and Rehana highlight ongoing tensions over governance, legal accountability, and the broader political landscape, which remains highly polarized following last year’s uprising and subsequent crackdown. The case is likely to continue attracting international attention, particularly regarding issues of justice, human rights, and the treatment of political figures in absentia.