Tulip Siddiq: How the British MP became entangled in Purbachal plot scandal and got convicted
Tulip then allegedly used her influence as a British MP to persuade Hasina to secure plots in the names of her mother Rehana, her sister Azmina Siddiq Ruponti, and her brother Radwan Mujib Siddiq.
British MP Tulip Siddiq became a central figure in the Purbachal plot scam cases filed back in January, one of which today (1 December) resulted in convictions against her, her mother Sheikh Rehana, and her aunt ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina.
A Dhaka court sentenced Rehana, who was the prime accused in this case, to seven years in prison, Tulip to two years and Hasina to five years over abuse of power and irregularities in securing several 10-katha plots in Rajuk's Purbachal New Model Town Project.
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed the case on 13 January, naming Rehana as the key accused, Tulip as the second accused and Hasina as the third.
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According to case documents, Tulip allegedly came to know that Hasina was arranging plots for herself and her children, Sajeeb Wazed Joy and Saima Wazed Putul.
Tulip then allegedly used her influence as a British MP to persuade Hasina to secure plots in the names of her mother Rehana, her sister Azmina Siddiq Ruponti, and her brother Radwan Mujib Siddiq.
The case initially named 15 people, with two added in the charge sheet submitted on 10 March. Charges were framed on 31 July, and the trial heard testimony from 32 witnesses between 13 August and 18 November.
Tulip is also accused in another case filed over the plot scam, in which Azmina is the prime accused.
The plot scam case is one of several investigations involving Tulip.
Following Hasina's ouster in July 2024, authorities also filed cases accusing Hasina and others, including Tulip, of involvement in the alleged embezzlement of Tk80,000 crore from nine development projects. An arrest warrant for Tulip was issued on 13 April 2025.
She also faced accusations in December 2024 of benefiting from properties in King's Cross, linked to figures associated with Hasina's government, which she denied.
As the controversy grew, Tulip, MP for Hampstead and Highgate since 2015, referred herself to the UK's Independent Adviser on Ministerial Standards, Sir Laurie Magnus.
In his letter to the British prime minister, he said that his eight-day review found no evidence of a breach of the ministerial code, but he also concluded that he could not give her complete exoneration.
Following this, she resigned as Economic Secretary to the Treasury in January, stating that although she had not breached the ministerial code, the ethics investigation was a distraction from the work of government.
On 15 April, the ACC filed another case accusing her of accepting a flat in Gulshan from Eastern Housing Limited without payment, described as illegal remuneration.
The legal proceedings are ongoing as Bangladesh continues its investigations into corruption tied to the former administration.
