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International Desk //

Pressure is mounting on Tulip Siddique, the niece of former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who fled to India in the face of a student uprising and the UK’s anti-corruption minister, to resign from the ministry. This time, the UK’s anti-corruption coalition, the UK Anti-Corruption Coalition, has called on her to step down from the ministry.

In a statement on Monday, the coalition called on Tulip Siddique to step down from her duties. The UK Anti-Corruption Coalition includes international organizations such as Oxfam, Transparency International and Spotlight on Corruption.

Tulip is a member of the UK’s Labor cabinet. She serves as Economic Secretary to the Treasury and City Minister. Her job is to tackle corruption within the country’s financial markets. However, she herself has been accused of corruption.

The coalition said in a statement that Tulip Siddique’s current position created a serious conflict of interest. As Treasury Secretary, she is responsible for the UK’s framework for money laundering regulations and financial crimes, while her family has direct links to a government that is under investigation for corruption.

The coalition also said that her resignation does not depend on the outcome of an independent advisory inquiry into whether she has breached her oath as a minister. The minister’s current responsibilities require urgent decisions to protect the UK’s international credibility and reputation. But there are doubts about whether Tulip is in a position to make those decisions in the circumstances.

Meanwhile, new information has emerged about Tulip Siddique’s previous connections with the Awami League government led by her aunt in Bangladesh and five properties purchased during that time. It is known that Tulip or her family lived in these properties and that these properties were purchased by allies of the Awami League government.

In addition, despite never having discussed political issues with Sheikh Hasina or repeatedly claiming innocence, several items related to Tulip Siddique’s politics, including UK election leaflets and Labor Party posters, were found in Ganobhaban, Bangladesh.

The British media outlet The Sunday Times says that their reporter saw various items, including clothes, jewelry, and expensive pen wrappers given to Tulip as gifts by foreign dignitaries, lying in Ganobhaban. These issues have further increased the controversy over Tulip.

However, despite the controversy, the Labor government has continued to support Tulip. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s spokesman said that the Prime Minister has full confidence in the Treasury Minister. The Minister has presented himself to an independent advisor regarding the allegations against him. The investigation process is ongoing and we will not say anything until that process is complete.

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