Tulip Siddiq, a UK politician and niece of Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, contests allegations of financial misconduct concerning the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant. Her legal team asserts these claims are false and based on a campaign to damage her reputation, emphasizing her lack of involvement. Siddiq’s lawyers have requested a halt to the seemingly baseless allegations and highlighted that she has no wealth remaining in Bangladesh.
Tulip Siddiq, a former Labour minister and niece of Sheikh Hasina, has publicly criticized Bangladeshi authorities for launching what she describes as a “targeted and baseless” campaign against her. She is urging a cessation of these damaging allegations, which her legal team has deemed false and misleading. The accusations relate to alleged financial misconduct linked to the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant, constructed with Russian assistance.
Siddiq’s legal representatives have emphasized her lack of involvement in the nuclear project, despite her appearance at a signing ceremony in 2013, alongside Sheikh Hasina and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The lawyers noted that it is customary for relatives of state leaders to accompany them on official visits, and Siddiq is not an exception.
The assertion that a £700,000 flat gifted to Siddiq in London is tied to embezzlement has been characterized as “absurd”. Her legal team underscored that the flat was purchased ten years prior to the nuclear deal. Siddiq’s familial background includes her father, who was a university professor in Dhaka, and her mother, a sister to Sheikh Hasina, who received political asylum in the UK. In January, Siddiq stepped down from her role as the UK’s economic secretary to the Treasury, a position where she addressed financial market corruption.
In response to the allegations, the chairman of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), Mohammad Abdul Momen, stated that the investigation is grounded in substantial documentary evidence. He openly invited Siddiq to contest the allegations, asserting that they are not unfounded but rather a serious inquiry into corruption.
The controversy ignited when a Chief Adviser in Bangladesh suggested to a British journalist that Siddiq might be implicated in embezzlement concerning the Rooppur plant, indicating potential summons for questioning. These statements raised questions about significant assets allegedly held by Siddiq in Bangladesh.
Siddiq’s lawyers fervently rejected these accusations, reinforcing that there is no legitimate claim against her. They condemned the notion of her being summoned to Bangladesh as “completely unjustified”, interpreting these narratives as a concerted effort to damage her reputation rather than legitimate concern over wrongdoing. They firmly asserted that Siddiq “has no wealth left behind in Bangladesh,” and labeled the allegations as fabricated, instigated to generate undue publicity.
In conclusion, Tulip Siddiq strongly disputes the allegations levied against her by Bangladeshi authorities, asserting that they are unfounded and aim to tarnish her reputation. Her legal team highlights her absence of involvement in the controversial Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant project and refutes the claims regarding her assets in Bangladesh. The ongoing investigation from the ACC is deemed by Siddiq’s representatives as a mere tactic to create sensationalism rather than a genuine corruption inquiry.
Original Source: www.newindianexpress.com
