Bangladesh chief declines to satisfy Tulip Siddiq

Bangladesh’s interim chief Muhammad Yunus has refused to satisfy Labour MP Tulip Siddiq to debate corruption allegations in opposition to her throughout his go to to London.

Yunus instructed the BBC the allegations had been a “courtroom matter” and mentioned he had confidence in Bangladesh’s Anti-Corruption Fee (ACC), which is investigating Siddiq.

The ACC has accused Siddiq of illegally receiving land from the regime of her aunt Sheikh Hasina, who was ousted as Bangladesh’s prime minister final 12 months.

Siddiq, a former Treasury minister, has denied the allegations and accused the Bangladeshi authorities of a “politically motivated smear marketing campaign”.

In a letter, Siddiq requested a gathering with Yunus, a Nobel-prize profitable economist who has led an interim authorities in Bangladesh since a student-led protest motion toppled Hasina from energy.

Siddiq mentioned a gathering “may also assist clear up the misunderstanding perpetuated by the Anti-Corruption Fee in Dhaka”.

In an interview with the BBC, Yunus was requested whether or not he would meet Siddiq throughout his four-day go to to the UK this week.

“No I am not as a result of it is a authorized process,” Yunus mentioned. “I do not need to interrupt a authorized process. Let the process proceed.”

Siddiq has argued Bangladeshi authorities haven’t supplied any proof to again up their allegations and refuse to interact together with her legal professionals.

Responding to these arguments, Yunus mentioned: “It is a courtroom matter.

“A courtroom will determine if sufficient supplies can be found to pursue the case or cancel it”.

When requested if prosecutors in Bangladesh wanted to be extra clear and supply proof of wrongdoing to Siddiq, Yunus mentioned: “As chief adviser I’ve full confidence in our Anti-Corruption Fee and they’re doing the proper factor.”

On the query of whether or not he would search Siddiq’s extradition if she was discovered responsible of any crimes in Bangladesh, Yunus mentioned: “Whether it is a part of the authorized process, in fact.”

In a press release, Siddiq mentioned she was dissatisfied Yunus had refused to satisfy her.

She mentioned: “He is been on the coronary heart of a political vendetta primarily based on fantasy accusations with no proof relentlessly briefed to the media.

“If this was a critical authorized course of they might interact with my legal professionals slightly than sending bogus correspondence to an handle in Dhaka the place I’ve by no means lived.

“I hope he’s now critical about ending the observe of smearing me within the press and permitting the courts to determine that their investigations don’t have anything to do with me – a British citizen and a proud member of the UK Parliament.”

Siddiq give up her ministerial put up earlier this 12 months, following an investigation into the allegations by the prime minister’s ethics adviser, Sir Laurie Magnus.

In his report, Sir Laurie mentioned he had “not recognized proof of improprieties”.

However he mentioned it was “regrettable” that Siddiq had not been extra alert to the “potential reputational dangers” of her ties to her aunt, who’s chief of Awami League get together in Bangladesh.

Bangladesh authorities estimate that about $234bn (£174bn) was siphoned off from Bangladesh via corrupt means whereas Hasina was in energy.

The Bangladeshi authorities allege that a lot of this cash has been stashed or spent within the UK.

Yunus mentioned he had not been capable of organize a gathering with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, an in depth pal and constituency neighbour of Siddiq.

He mentioned: “I do not know whether or not I ought to be dissatisfied or he ought to be dissatisfied. It is a missed alternative.

“That is why I am saying coming to Bangladesh can be alternative to calm down and see and really feel the second.”

When requested if Downing Road had given a motive for not scheduling a gathering with Starmer, he mentioned: “I do not suppose we’ve got acquired a proof from that form of factor. Most likely he’s busy with different essential issues.”

A Downing Road spokesperson didn’t remark.

However Yunus did have an viewers with King Charles at Buckingham Palace and met Enterprise Secretary Jonathan Reynolds in Parliament.

In a put up on X, Reynolds mentioned they mentioned “our shared ambitions for financial development, job creation and prosperity”.

Some anti-Yunus protesters from the Bangladeshi group within the UK gathered on Parliament Sq. throughout his go to.

Yunus mentioned Bangladesh’s interim authorities had employed legal professionals to attempt to recuperate any allegedly stolen funds from the UK.

He mentioned the UK authorities was “extraordinarily supportive” of this effort.

“I’ve loads of admiration for the promptness with which they’re treating the entire topic,” Yunus mentioned.

The BBC understands the Worldwide Anti-Corruption Co-ordination Centre (IACCC) is exploring alternatives to help Bangladesh’s interim authorities and its regulation enforcement companies of their efforts to analyze allegations of corruption below Hasina’s rule.

The IACCC is hosted by the Nationwide Crime Company in London.

An NCA spokesperson mentioned: “The NCA doesn’t routinely touch upon the character of worldwide help, nor affirm or deny if the Company has opened an investigation or is supporting a companion’s investigation.”