UK City Minister Tulip Siddiq has vehemently denied any involvement in a major corruption investigation in Bangladesh, allegations which centre around the embezzlement of nearly £4 billion ($5 billion) from infrastructure projects, Bloomberg reports.
The BBC, citing Bangladeshi court documents, reported Thursday that Siddiq’s family is implicated in the probe.
The investigation, led by Bangladesh’s Anti-Corruption Commission, alleges that Siddiq played a role in a 2013 deal involving a Russian nuclear power plant, which allegedly resulted in £1 billion being diverted to private hands. The Daily Mail published a photograph appearing to show Siddiq, her aunt – former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, and Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2013.
A spokesperson for UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Dave Pares, confirmed that the minister denies all involvement. He added that Siddiq maintains her ministerial responsibilities, has declared all relevant interests, and has recused herself from any decisions relating to Bangladesh since taking office earlier this year to avoid any perceived conflict of interest.
The allegations stem from accusations made by Bobby Hajjaj, a political opponent of Sheikh Hasina, according to the BBC. A source close to the investigation confirmed that Siddiq has not yet been contacted by Bangladeshi authorities.
Despite the denial, the allegations present a significant challenge for the UK government. Siddiq’s portfolio includes responsibility for tackling financial corruption, making the accusations particularly sensitive.
