Demand for Tulip Siddiq to be sent back to Bangladesh following extensive corruption investigation, opposition leaders urge former Labour MP to return and cooperate with authorities

A Bangladeshi politician has called for ex-Labour MP Tulip Siddiq to be extradited to the country as she is investigated over corruption claims. 

The former anti-corruption minister stood down from her role last week after the Mail revealed she was facing a major corruption probe in Bangladesh.

She resigned from Government on January 14 saying she did not want to be a ‘distraction’ after a sleaze probe condemned her ‘regrettable’ behaviour. 

Ms Siddiq is currently under investigation over her links to her aunt Sheikh Hasina, who was deposed as Bangladesh’s prime minister in August amid allegations of corruption and brutality.

She was alleged to have been involved in brokering a 2013 deal with Russia for a nuclear power plant in Bangladesh in which billions are said to have been embezzled.

Ms Siddiq has also been named in a second investigation into the illegal allocation of land to members of her family during her time as an MP.

Following the claims, Bobby Hajjaj, the founder and chairman of the Nationalist Democratic Movement, called for her to be extradited to Bangladesh to ‘face law enforcement’.

Hajjaj told Guido Fawkes that Tulip allegedly holds dual citizenship for both the UK and Bangladesh and claimed he would urge the country’s Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to ask her to return. 

‘So from our end we will certainly push for the ACC and law enforcement here to ask for Tulip to come and face law enforcement, or face the courts here,’ he added. 

Tulip Siddiq (pictured) resigned from the Government last week after the Mail revealed she was facing a major corruption probe in Bangladesh

Ms Siddiq and Sir Keir, whose constituencies neighbour each other, at the election count in 2015

Following the revelations, Bobby Hajjaj (pictured), the founder and chairman of the Nationalist Democratic Movement, called for her to be extradited to Bangladesh to ‘face law enforcement’

Mr Hajjaj also claimed the Labour Government was ‘heavily supported by confidants of the dictatorial regime’.

‘Labour and the Awami League party have been almost like sister parties and knowing very well the human rights abuses,’ he said. 

When asked whether the UK Government would urge Ms Siddiq to comply with an extradition order, the PM’s spokesman told Guido Fawkes they ‘wouldn’t get into hypotheticals’. 

The handling of the crisis over Ms Siddiq’s links to her aunt Sheikh Hasina’s regime has raised questions about the PM’s political judgment.

The day before her departure, No 10 voiced ‘full confidence’ in her in spite of several weeks of damaging headlines.

Ms Siddiq had referred herself to Sir Laurie Magnus, the Prime Minister’s ethics adviser, following mounting questions about her use of properties connected to her aunt.

Ms Siddiq acknowledged that continuing as a Treasury minister would be a ‘distraction from the work of the Government’

Ms Siddiq (left) with her aunt, Sheikh Hasina, (centre) and Vladimir Putin (right) in 2013

She was replaced by pensions minister Emma Reynolds, who will take over her City brief.

Questions were immediately raised about the appointment after it emerged that she allegedly lobbied the last government to water down restrictions on Chinese business activity.   

Ms Reynolds will be replaced by former Resolution Foundation chief and now Labour MP Torsten Bell.

Tory leader Kemi Badenoch accused the PM of ‘weak’ leadership and questioned whether he had delayed the process due to his friendship with the minister. 

She said: ‘It was clear at the weekend that the anti-corruption minister’s position was completely untenable. Yet Keir Starmer dithered and delayed to protect his close friend.

‘Even now, as Bangladesh files a criminal case against Tulip Siddiq, he expresses “sadness” at her inevitable resignation.

‘Weak leadership from a weak Prime Minister.’

The Institute for Government said the handling of the row showed Labour were not yet used to the scrutiny of Government.

It added: ‘Having been so quick to loudly criticise the last government for its perceived failings on ethics and integrity, Starmer and his team need to show that they truly understand the importance of meeting the standards that they promised to uphold once in office.’

Liberal Democrat spokesman Sarah Olney said: ‘It’s right Tulip Siddiq resigned, you can’t have an anti-corruption minister mired in a corruption scandal.’