British MP, Tulip Siddiq handed two-year jail sentence in Bangladesh corruption case
Sultanul Arefin 
Tulip Siddiq, a British Labour MP and former UK minister, has been sentenced in Bangladesh to two years in prison after a corruption trial held in her absence. The verdict intensifies a high-profile legal and political battle that spans Dhaka and London.
Verdict: jail sentence after trial in absence
A Dhaka court found Siddiq guilty of abusing influence to secure a valuable plot of land for relatives near the capital. Prosecutors said she pressured officials through her aunt, ousted Bangladeshi prime minister Sheikh Hasina, to obtain a 7,200-square-foot plot on Dhaka’s outskirts.
The case is part of a broader anti-corruption drive launched after Hasina’s government fell amid mass protests last year. In the same case, 16 other defendants, including former officials and family members, also faced charges linked to land allocation and misuse of state property.
Background: long-running anti-corruption probe
Bangladesh’s Anti-Corruption Commission has been investigating alleged illicit land and wealth linked to Hasina’s former administration. Officials claim Siddiq and relatives benefitted from political connections, receiving land in an area earmarked for government projects and diplomatic housing.
Earlier this year, authorities issued an arrest warrant for Siddiq after she failed to appear in court, saying she had been properly notified. The current sentence follows months of hearings in Dhaka, where prosecutors argued the case showed how public power was allegedly used for private gain.
Defence: Siddiq calls case a ‘farce’
Siddiq, who represents Hampstead and Highgate in the UK Parliament, has repeatedly rejected all accusations. She says she has never owned land in Bangladesh and has not influenced any allocation decisions for family members or others.
In earlier statements, Siddiq described the proceedings as a “farce” and “politically motivated,” arguing they form part of a wider campaign to damage her reputation and influence British politics. Her lawyers say neither she nor they have received formal court documents, and they are exploring ways to challenge the ruling.
Political reaction in UK and Bangladesh
The case places pressure on the UK government, which must balance human-rights concerns, diplomatic ties and respect for Bangladesh’s legal process. British officials have so far limited themselves to saying they are monitoring developments closely.
In Bangladesh, supporters of the interim administration present the sentence as proof of a tougher stance on corruption after years of alleged abuses. However, critics argue that prosecutions against figures linked to Hasina and her Awami League allies risk appearing selective and may deepen political polarisation.
What happens next for Tulip Siddiq?
Because Siddiq is a British citizen living in London, her immediate imprisonment appears unlikely without complex extradition steps. Bangladesh could seek international notices, but the UK would still decide whether to act on them.
Meanwhile, the verdict may raise questions about her political future at Westminster. Siddiq has already resigned from a Treasury post over the controversy but remains an MP, insisting she will continue serving constituents while fighting the charges through legal and diplomatic channels.
Featured image: Reuters
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Suzan Seherin 