If Tulip is innocent, why did she resign from UK ministerial post? ACC chairman asks

Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Chairman Mohammad Abdul Momen has cast doubt on the innocence of British MP Tulip Siddiq, niece of ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina, questioning her resignation from a UK ministerial post and her lawyer's letter to the ACC amid ongoing corruption investigations.

"If Tulip claims to be innocent, why did her lawyer send a letter to the ACC? Why did she resign from her ministerial position in the UK?" he asked at a press conference today (16 June), adding that three cases are currently ongoing against Tulip, with another under investigation.

The ACC chief also stressed that Tulip is considered a Bangladeshi citizen by the commission.

"No matter how much she insists she is British, when we examine our documents, she appears to be Bangladeshi. Depending on the situation, she claims to be British at times and Bangladeshi at others for her own convenience. You can judge whether that is appropriate. We are treating her as a Bangladeshi citizen," he said.

"In the eyes of the ACC, Tulip is an accused and a fugitive," he said, adding that the commission's activities regarding Tulip are ongoing and that summonses have been sent to the proper address.

Highlighting the allegations, Abdul Momen pointed to "irregularities in the allocation of Rajuk and Gulshan plots" and discrepancies in Tulip's financial declarations. "We reviewed her income tax returns — suddenly, her gold holdings jumped from 10 bhori to 30 bhori without any change in valuation," he noted.

"No matter how much Tulip says, 'I know nothing' — if she truly knew nothing, why would she lose her ministerial post? Why would her lawyer write to us?" the ACC chief asked. "We have informed her lawyer that under the provisions of our law, she must face the court here," he added.