The trial of Tulip Siddiq begins in Bangladesh

• Tulip Siddiq is accused of corruption and receiving land.
• The court began with testimonies from representatives of the Anti-Corruption Commission.
• Siddiq and her family are accused of embezzling state funds.

The trial against former British minister Tulip Siddiq started in Bangladesh in mid. She is accused of misusing family ties with former prime minister Sheikh Hasina to acquire state land deals in the country.

Tulip Siddiq, who is a niece of Sheikh Hasina, resigned from her position as Minister for Anti-Corruption in January after reports emerged about her involvement in London real estate linked to her aunt, and her participation in the investigation of corruption in Bangladesh.

Siddiq along with her mother, Sheikh Rehana, brother, Radvan Mudzib, and sister, Azmina, appeared before the court. She is accused of being involved in the illegal acquisition of state lands in the construction project of the public housing of the capital, Dhaka. All four were previously accused earlier and, according to the words of the prosecution, fled from the court, so they will be tried in absentia.

The hearing in the Special Court Dhaka-4 began with testimonies from representatives of the Anti-Corruption Commission of the country. In the middle, two witnesses testified, while the third is planned to be summoned, reported prosecutor Muhammad Tariqul Islam.

Siddiq's lawyers previously described the accusations as baseless and politically motivated.

In the context of the investigation of corruption, it is also confirmed that the Siddiq family was involved in the conclusion of an agreement with Russia in 2013 regarding the construction of a nuclear power plant in Bangladesh, in the framework of which, as it is claimed, large sums of money were embezzled.

Siddiq represents the northern London constituency of Hampstead and Highgate in parliament and worked in the government of the Labour Party as the economic secretary, responsible for combating financial corruption.

Sheikh Hasina was sworn in after 15 years of rule following massive protests that took place in September last year. She fled to India and has since been in exile. Now Hasina is accused of crimes against humanity.

Tags: Politics/Crime