'It's about plain robbery': Yunus on Tulip scandal

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus has called on UK's anti-corruption minister Tulip Siddiq, the niece of Sheikh Hasina, facing controversy over corruption allegations to apologise for using properties given to her and her family by the Awami League regime.

Yunus told The Sunday Times that the London properties used by Tulip should be investigated and returned if she is found to have benefited from such "plain robbery".

The London homes connected to Tulip should be examined as part of a continuing inquiry into fraud and embezzlement, Yunus told the British news outlet.

The comments are his first on the scandal engulfing Tulip, 42, and will add to the pressure on her to resign. There are suggestions that the British Prime Minister's Office is already looking for a replacement, according to a Sunday Times report.

Yunus' intervention came as a Sunday Times investigation found Tulip spent years living in a Hampstead property bought by an offshore company named in the Panama Papers and connected to two Bangladeshi businessmen.

During an interview with the Times on Thursday at his official residence State Guest House Jamuna, Yunus said it was an "irony" that Tulip has been accused of corruption.

Yunus referred to a recent official report that found the people connected with the Awami League regime had taken billions of dollars a year out of Bangladesh, with some funds used to buy assets including property abroad.

"They pointed out how money is stolen, but it's not stealing – when you steal, you hide it. It's a robbery," he said.

Asked whether that could apply to properties used by members of Hasina's family in London, the chief adviser said, "Absolutely, it's about plain robbery. Nothing else.

"If a UK parliament member is involved, definitely it's a big issue…We got used to [the previous regime] taking away everything, so we feel relieved that you're bringing this [issue] to the attention of the world."

On the scale of corruption, he added, "The word 'contaminated' is a very soft word. [The country is] totally destroyed. It's not contaminated. [Hasina's regime] had no intention of retaining any semblance of…what honesty is, what transparency is. They had no qualm about destroying it all. So, that's what we inherited."

Asked whether Tulip's properties should be investigated by the Anti-Corruption Commission, Yunus said "absolutely". He added that the commission should look at the "whole thing".

Shayan's 'generous philanthropy'

While talking with the Times, Yunus also joked about the "generous" philanthropy of Shayan Rahman, the son of Salman F Rahman, the private sector adviser to Sheikh Hasina, and who has given £250,000 to one of the king's charities.

"Generous person, see? How generous…We are mentioning Shayan by name now but there are many Shayans going to cocktail parties right now who've not been named yet. When you have free money you can do anything you want, you want to go close to somebody, throwing money, you've got a ticket right here, you sit next to the person that you want to look for," he said.

'It's about people's money'

In the interview, Yunus said his officials aim to recover cash and assets held overseas but originating from funds in Bangladesh.

"That's the intention of the interim government. How to bring them back. Because it's about people's money. And when I say people it's not about the billion-dollar people you talk about, [it's] common people.

"Where they live, wherever they have palaces, whole complexes of properties bought, you see in many capitals, not far from us, the countries very close to us. Then in the UK, we'll try and find them. And then go further further, Caribbeans, USA, Canada."

According to Sunday Times, the National Crime Agency (NCA), Britain's equivalent to the US FBI, has indicated its willingness to help Bangladesh recover certain assets.

Yunus said he hoped for the continued cooperation of law enforcement in every country involved, including the UK. "Respective governments should look into it, whatever the reasons are," he said in the interview.

System of making oligarchs: Mahfuz

The British news outlet also talked with Mahfuz Alam, adviser to the interim government and a student leader of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, over the issue.

Mahfuz described Tulip as part of Sheikh Hasina's "family enterprise" and said giving property to members of the family overseas was a "coordinated process" which was being [conducted] for 15 years.

"They were plundering money and [assisting] the people who will vouch for her and her politics."

He added, "It's the system of making oligarchs…it was that nexus, the Sheikh family, not only Sheikh Rehana or Hasina, the Sheikh's family around Bangladesh…and again oligarchs who were looting the public money from many banks."

Tulip should be sacked: Tory leader

Meanwhile, Kemi Badenoch, Conservative opposition leader, said UK PM Keir Starmer should remove Siddiq from her post, warning of a diplomatic crisis, reports the Times.

"The prime minister tried to make a big deal of his commitment to standards and integrity. His weak leadership on Siddiq suggests he is not as bothered by integrity as he claims," said Badenoch.

According to the report, Labour MPs have been reluctant to speak out, with many said to be asking why Starmer has taken so long to act.

Badenoch posted on X on Saturday that it was time for Siddiq to be sacked, adding the PM had "appointed his personal friend as anti-corruption minister and she is accused herself of corruption".

Badenoch said Tulip had become "a distraction when the government should be focused on dealing with the financial problems it has created".

"Now the government of Bangladesh is raising serious concerns about her links to the regime of Sheikh Hasina,"reports BBC quoting Badenoch. 

Starmer and Siddiq are friends and constituency neighbours, while the prime minister has faced criticism for his proximity to the UK arm of the Awami League.

Meanwhile, Tulip continues to defend herself in the face of mounting criticism. She says she is the victim of trumped-up allegations and has not yet been contacted by the ACC.