Bangladesh authorities are seeking bank details related to Tulip Siddiq
Bangladesh’s anti-money laundering agency has sought details of accounts and transactions linked to Treasury Minister Tulip Siddiqui from the country’s banks.
The Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) is also seeking details related to Siddiq’s sister, brother, mother as well as his aunt and the country’s former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
This comes after Siddique was last month named in a probe into claims that Sheikh Hasina and her family embezzled £3.9 billion from infrastructure spending in Bangladesh.
A spokesperson for Tulip Siddiq said: “No evidence has been presented for these allegations. Tulip has not been contacted by anyone on this matter and they completely reject the claims.”
Siddiq’s associates say he does not have a bank account outside Britain and that Bangladeshi authorities have not contacted him.
The investigation in Bangladesh is based on a series of allegations made by Hasina’s senior political rival Bobby Hajjaj, who fled Bangladesh last August amid deadly protests against his government.
A source close to Siddiq had earlier described the allegations as “fabricated” and harmful to his aunt.
A senior BFIU official told the BBC, “BFIU has directed all banks and financial institutions in Bangladesh to send information and transaction details of Sheikh Hasina, Sheikh Rehana, Hasina’s son Sajib Wazed Joy, Hasina’s daughter Saima Wazed Putul, Rehana Have been issued.” Daughters Tulip Siddiq and Azmina Siddiq and Rehana’s son Radwan Mujeeb Siddiq Bobby and his business ventures.”
On Monday, Siddiq referred himself to the Prime Minister’s Standards Advisor following the controversy over his aunt’s association with the political movement.
Siddiq had faced growing calls for a probe in recent days after reports of him staying in properties linked to his aunt’s associates in London.
In his letter to Sir Laurie Magnus, who oversees standards among government ministers, he said: “I am clear that I have done nothing wrong.”
Downing Street confirmed that Sir Lowry will now carry out a “fact-finding” exercise to determine whether “further action” is needed, including further investigation.
A spokesman for Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said the results would be made public, but did not specify a timescale for the process to conclude.
Sir Keir has said he has confidence in Siddiq, who as Economic Secretary to the Treasury is responsible for tackling economic crime, money laundering and illicit finance.
