The British Minister of Financial Services resigns on suspicion of her involvement in corruption cases

British Minister Tulip Siddiq submitted her resignation from Keir Starmer’s government after she faced many corruption charges in her native Bangladesh, where her name was mentioned in investigations conducted by Bangladesh into corruption, targeting her aunt, former Prime Minister Hasina Wajid.

Siddiq, who holds the position of British Secretary of State for Financial Services, said in her resignation letter that she had acted “with complete transparency,” considering that remaining in her position would divert attention from the work of the Labor government.

She stressed that her “loyalty was and will always remain” to the Labor Party government and “the program of national renewal and transformation that it has embarked on,” adding: “Therefore, I decided to resign from my ministerial position.”

The former prime minister faces serious criminal charges after her government was overthrown amid widespread political unrest.

Wajid fled Bangladesh on August 5, on the eve of major protests that led to the end of her 15-year rule.

The Wajid government is accused of a series of authoritarian practices, including the forced absences of some people, in addition to cases of extrajudicial killings, and there are also allegations of widespread financial mismanagement.

International trial

The newly established government of Bangladesh established an international trial to investigate crimes committed during Hasina Wajid’s rule.

There are currently procedures underway to issue arrest warrants against Wajid and her family, including Minister Tulip Siddiq, who may be summoned for investigation for her involvement in alleged corruption cases.

Tulip’s name appeared in two important corruption investigations, but she reiterated her denial of all the allegations made against her, and referred herself to the Prime Minister’s advisor on ministerial interests, who is responsible for determining the extent of ministers’ compliance with the behavior of government rules, which is considered standard behavior for ministers, and is not concerned with any… It is an admission of error.

Siddiq said in her letter to Counselor Lori Magnus: “I am clear that I did not do anything wrong, but in order to avoid doubts, I would like these facts to be revealed independently.”

Magnus recommended that although her action could not be considered a breach of the ministerial code, Siddiq had “inadvertently misled the public” about an apartment given to her as a gift by one of her aunt’s allies.

The first government

Hasina’s father, Wajid Majboor Rahman, was known as the “founding father of Bangladesh”, leading the country formerly known as East Pakistan to independence from Pakistan in 1971. Rahman became the head of Bangladesh’s first interim government, being elected by an overwhelming majority in 1972, and his wife, children, and other members of his family were assassinated during a military coup that took place on August 15, 1975, amid allegations of corruption and torture of his political opponents. Both Hasina and her sister Rahina were outside the country at the time, and they escaped death.

When Hasina returned to Bangladesh in 1981, she took charge of a government organisation, the Awami League, and came to power in 1996. Although she was initially seen as a democratic figure, this image quickly changed amid accusations that she was using She was in office for abuse of power, and her government passed a series of controversial laws, providing government protection and housing for every member of her government.

In 2001, under the “Father of the Nation Family Security” law, Hasina acquired the Prime Minister’s official residence in the capital, Dhaka, known as “Ganabhaban,” for what is said to be a symbolic price, and her sister Rehana also obtained a house in the wealthy Damundi neighborhood. Her government, according to some allegations, agreed to provide some generous scholarships, covered all educational expenses both at home and abroad, and provided monthly assistance to every child until he reached the age of 25 years. These accumulations of property and privileges are said to have continued until Hasina fled to India in 2024 amid widespread protests.

“Stolen Assets”

Hasina is credited with developing important economies during her rule, which lasted between 2009 and 2024, but it was recently revealed that this economic development was taking place through the manipulation and smuggling of billions of dollars by Hasina’s friends and colleagues to accounts overseas.

The interim Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Muhammad Yunus, demanded the return of what he described as “stolen assets,” calling for Hasina and others to be held accountable. About “Asia Times”

. Remaining in office will divert attention from the work of the Labor government.