Tulip Siddiq Resigns as Treasury Minister Amid Anti-Corruption Investigation

(The Post News)– Treasury Minister Tulip Siddiq has announced her retirement after several years of pressure over a saga linked to an anti-corruption inquiry in Bangladesh. Though she insisted on her innocence, Siddiq said that it would be a distraction for the government to continue in her post.

This comes after allegations that Siddiq was linked to her aunt, Sheikh Hasina’s, corruption. Hasina was a Bangladeshi prime minister who served in the position for over ten years and was impeached in 2024 for alleged corruption.

Siddiq handed over her letter of resignation to the Labour leader, Sir Keir Starmer, stating that she did not do anything wrong; however, her time in the office interfered with the necessary legwork. While Starmer accepted the recognition with sadness and praised Siddiq’s dedication, Laurie, the Independent Adviser on Ministerial Standards, concluded there was no evidence of financial improprieties or ministerial breaches for Siddiq.

Laurie also said it was “regrettable” that Siddiq had “clearly not” realised the reputational risks associated with her family having links to parliament. Moreover, Laurie did, in his evaluation of Siddiq’s assertions, state that she attended events such as the signing of the Russian nuclear power deal in 2013 for social reasons rather than political ones.

For Siddiq, issues started due to the ongoing anti-corruption investigation in Bangladesh, in which her aunt is accused of stealing money during her time as prime minister. Siddiq also submitted court papers related to two other cases.

In one case, which is the Siddiq Nuclear Power Plant, it is alleged that Siddiq facilitated her aunt in arranging a $5 billion Russian 2013 deal for the Rooppur nuclear power plant and exaggerated the cost. In one case, the Siddiq Nuclear Power Plant, it is claimed that Siddiq helped her aunt arrange a $5 billion Russian 2013 agreement for the Rooppur nuclear power plant while exaggerating the cost. She denies being involved, stating that she had nothing to do with going to the signing ceremony, as if it were a family gathering.

The second case involves property allocations, in which she is accused of leveraging Rupa’s family ties through the Bangladesh Anti-Corruption Commission to jeopardise land and property in Dhaka for her mother, Rehana Siddique, thereby undermining trust and public service standards.

In her defence, Siddiq’s lawyer dismissed the allegations of the probe, alleging that she did not even receive any visit from the police and was not linked to her aunt’s administration.

The resignation of Siddiq received mixed reactions. The UK Anti-Corruption Coalition had advised her to step down after having stated that there could be a conflict of interest given her responsibilities under illicit finance. Meanwhile, opposition leaders levelled Sir Keir Starmer with putting things off in order to shield one of his closest backers.

The spokesperson of . Muhammad Yunus, Bangladesh’s interim leader, has proclaimed that the government will seek to reclaim assets related to corruption, including houses in London with ties to Hasina’s dictatorship. Economic Secretary to the Treasury, Siddiq’s, suitable replacement will be the Labour MP Emma Reynolds, whose previous job was in a senior role in a nonexecutive financial services company.