ANTI-corruption authorities in Bangladesh have issued a warrant for the arrest of a Labour MP, it has been reported.
Bangladesh’s Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) allegedly sought an arrest warrant for former City minister Tulip Siddiq.
It was reportedly issued over allegations she illegally received a 7,200 square feet plot of land in the country’s capital, Dhaka.
The allegation is said to be separate from an investigation into Ms Siddiq’s aunt, the former Bangladeshi prime minister Sheikh Hasina.
The Labour MP was also named in a nuclear power plant deal.
There is no formal extradition treaty between the UK and Bangladesh.
Ms Siddiq has consistently denied any wrongdoing.
In a statement, Ms Siddiq’s lawyers said she had no knowledge of any warrant being issued.
They described the claims against her as “politically motivated”.
Ms Siddiq’s lawyers said: “The ACC has made various allegations against Ms Siddiq through the media in the last few months.
“The allegations are completely false and have been dealt with in writing by Ms Siddiq’s lawyers.
“The ACC has not responded to Ms Siddiq or put any allegations to her directly or through her lawyers.
“Ms Siddiq knows nothing about a hearing in Dhaka relating to her and she has no knowledge of any arrest warrant that is said to have been issued.
There are no grounds to accuse her of any wrongdoing, and the claim that she obtained land in Dhaka illegally is completely false.
“She has never had a plot of land in Bangladesh, and she has never influenced any allocation of plots of land to her family members or anyone else.
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has not presented any evidence to back up the accusations against Ms. Siddiq, indicating that the charges are driven by political motives.
Ms Siddiq resigned from her post in the Treasury earlier this year.
This followed an investigation by the Prime Minister’s ethics adviser into her links to her aunt’s regime, which was overthrown last year.
Sir Laurie Magnus found no violation of the Ministerial Code, but suggested that Sir Keir Starmer reassess Ms. Siddiq’s duties.
He said: “Given the nature of Ms Siddiq’s ministerial responsibilities, which include the promotion of the UK financial services sector and the inherent probity of its regulatory framework as a core component of the UK economy and its growth, it is regrettable that she was not more alert to the potential reputational risks – both to her and the Government – arising from her close family’s association with Bangladesh.”
But Ms Siddiq chose to resign saying she had become “a distraction” from the Government’s agenda.
A Conservative Party spokesman said: “If it is the case that Keir Starmer’s choice for anti-corruption minister is the subject of an international arrest warrant for corruption, she should immediately stand down as Labour MP.
“It is shocking that Keir Starmer believes ‘the door remains open’ for Ms Siddiq returning to a government position.
“Keir Starmer must put his close friendship and association with Ms Siddiq aside and take the action he should have months ago.”
The ACC has been contacted for comment.
