Tulip Siddiq faces mounting scrutiny amid explosive bribery claims over Bangladesh's Russia-backed nuclear project.
(EPICSTORIAN) – UK City Minister Tulip Siddiq is under investigation following accusations of facilitating a multi-billion-dollar bribery scheme tied to a Russian-backed nuclear power plant in Bangladesh. The allegations target Siddiq, her family members, and the controversial deal signed during her aunt Sheikh Hasina’s premiership.
According to Dailymail, the investigation, led by Bangladesh’s Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), stems from a High Court petition filed by opposition politician Bobby Hajjaj. Court documents claim Siddiq helped “broker” the $10 billion Rooppur nuclear power plant deal in 2013, allegedly receiving illicit payments alongside her mother, Sheikh Rehana, and aunt, Sheikh Hasina.
The deal was finalized in a Kremlin ceremony between Hasina and Russian President Vladimir Putin, with Siddiq present as a then-Labour councillor. Reports claim over $4 billion was siphoned off through the arrangement.
The ACC confirmed the probe, emphasizing its commitment to “ensuring transparency and accountability, irrespective of stature.” However, Syed Faruk, UK general-secretary of Hasina’s Awami League, dismissed the allegations as “politically motivated attacks” orchestrated by Bangladesh’s current government.
Tulip Siddiq Refused to Comment on the Investigation
Ms. Siddiq has refrained from public comment, but a close source told Dailymail that the claims are “spurious.” This marks the latest controversy for Siddiq, who, as Economic Secretary to the Treasury, has faced scrutiny since her July appointment. Earlier, she was investigated for failing to declare rental income, though she was cleared after apologizing.
Hasina’s Awami left Bangladesh in Ruins
Bangladesh, under Hasina’s Awami League, has faced longstanding allegations of corruption, political suppression, and nepotism. Hasina, who ruled for over 15 years, fled to India in August after violent protests turned deadly, signaling a fraught political climate.
The opposition, led by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), accuses Hasina’s regime of electoral fraud and authoritarian practices.
Bangladesh under its current economic situations grapples with rising inflation, governance challenges, and mounting foreign debts. The nuclear deal, initially hailed as essential for energy development, now serves as a flashpoint for broader allegations of corruption and misuse of state funds.
