Bangladesh convicts Siddiq and Hasina amid governmental upheaval and absentia trials. Photo Credit: House of Commons / Flickr
A COURT successful nan Bangladesh superior of Dhaka sentenced British-Bangladeshi politician, Tulip Siddiq, a lawmaker of nan Labour Party, to 2 years successful situation connected Monday, December 1 for allegations of corruption. The Bangladeshi tribunal besides sentenced erstwhile Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Siddiq’s aunt, to 5 years successful situation for crimes against humanity and nan deaths of an estimated 1,400 group astatine nan hands of nan police.
Banglaeshi tribunal alleges corruption, embezzlement, and maltreatment of power
According to Rabiul Alam, nan judge of Dhaka’s Special Judge’s Court, Hasina misused her powerfulness arsenic premier curate and Siddiq influenced her aunt successful helping her mother, Rehana Siddiq, and 2 siblings, sister Azmina Siddiq and relative Radwan Siddiq, get a onshore crippled connected nan outskirts of Dhaka, belonging to a authorities project.
In summation to these charges, Siddiq and her family person besides been investigated successful a £3.9 cardinal (€4.4 billion) embezzlement woody involving a Russian-funded atomic powerfulness works successful 2013.
Siddiq was sentenced to 2 years successful situation and an further good of 100,000 Bangladeshi taka, aliases conscionable complete €700. If she fails to salary nan fine, six months will beryllium added to her sentence.
Siddiq denies each charges; improbable to service sentence
Siddiq, who is London-based and represents London’s Hampstead and Highgate areas successful Britain’s parliament, powerfully denies nan claims and has rejected nan charges. Since nan tribunal convicted Siddiq successful a proceedings held successful her absence, location was nary extradition statement put into place, nor was she represented by a defence lawyer astatine nan clip of her conviction, observers opportunity it is improbable that Siddiq will service her condemnation contempt being recovered guilty.
“I person been clear from nan outset that I person done thing incorrect and will respond to immoderate reliable grounds that is presented to me,” said a connection made connected Siddiq’s behalf. “Continuing to smear my sanction to people governmental points is some baseless and damaging.”
Labour Party rejects ruling
The Labour Party has stated that nan process was “flawed and farcical from nan opening to nan end,” and a spokesperson stated that nan Labour Party could not recognise nan ruling. According to Siddiq, location were nary summons sent to her, nor a complaint expanse aliases immoderate different benignant of correspondence from nan Bangladeshi authorities astatine all.
“The only logic I cognize I’m being convicted is because I publication it successful nan newspapers,” said Siddiq. “So this is proceedings by media, which is profoundly unfair.”
According to a charismatic for Bangladesh’s Anti-Corruption Commission, Siddiq was tried arsenic a national of Bangladesh, since authorities had obtained her Bangladeshi passport, ID and taxation number. Siddiq’s lawyers, connected nan different hand, declare she has “never had” an ID paper aliases elector ID, and “has not held a passport since she was a child.”
A fierce, deadly student uprising forces Hasina retired of her 15-year rule
An explosive wide uprising chiefly involving student protesters ended Hasina’s 15-year norm successful Bangladesh successful July of 2024, and she presently lives successful a self-imposed exile successful India, successful nan superior of New Delhi. Since her authorities was overturned, Bangladeshi officials person launched a number of ineligible cases against Hasina, her past associates, and her family members. All of her tests person been conducted successful her absence.
The erstwhile premier curate faced 5 abstracted charges related to inciting nan execution of nan protesters, ordering demonstrators to beryllium hanged, ordering nan usage of lethal weapons, drones, and helicopters to stifle nan uprising. Hasina denies nan charges.
In January of 2025, Siddiq resigned arsenic a authorities curate owed to her ties to her aunt amid beardown governmental pressure.
In November of 2025, Sheikh Hasina was sentenced to decease for crimes against humanity. A abstracted court, connected November 27, sentenced Hasina to 21 years successful jailhouse successful 3 abstracted cases involving nan aforesaid authorities project.
Along pinch nan 2 women, Siddiq’s mother, Rehana, was fixed 7 years successful situation and is considered nan premier subordinate successful nan case. Rehana is presently staying extracurricular of nan state and Siddiq’s 2 siblings are besides abroad, facing different charges involving past year’s uprising.
There are a full of 14 different suspects progressive successful nan high-profile case.
Read much news from nan UK here.
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