MP Tulip Siddiq says Bangladesh jail term is 'unfair'

Labour MP Tulip Siddiq has been sentenced in absentia to two years in prison by a Bangladeshi court on corruption charges. The court found her guilty of using her influence with her aunt, former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, to secure land for her family in Dhaka. Siddiq, who denies the charges and resides in London, claims the trial was unfair and that she was not properly notified or given the opportunity to defend herself. She maintains she is not a Bangladeshi citizen and has engaged lawyers in both the UK and Bangladesh. The case is part of a series of legal actions against Hasina's former associates since her regime was overturned, with Siddiq facing additional outstanding charges.

In December 2025, a court in Dhaka, Bangladesh, sentenced former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in absentia to five years in prison for corruption related to a land deal. British MP Tulip Siddiq, Hasina's niece, also received a two-year sentence for influencing Hasina to allocate land to her mother and siblings. Hasina's sister, Sheikh Rehana, was sentenced to seven years. The three were also fined 100,000 taka each. The prosecution presented evidence of Siddiq's communication with Hasina's principal secretary, allegedly showing her involvement in securing the land for her family. Hasina has been living in exile in India since being toppled in an uprising the previous year.

A Bangladesh court sentenced UK MP Tulip Siddiq to two years in prison in absentia for allegedly using her influence to secure land deals for her family, including her mother, Sheikh Rehana, who received a seven-year sentence. The trial, involving multiple family members of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, proceeded without the accused present. Siddiq, who denies the charges and claims the evidence was forged, asserts she hasn't held a Bangladeshi passport or paid taxes there since childhood. The UK does not have an extradition treaty with Bangladesh, and the Labour Party has criticized the judgment, citing a lack of fair legal process. Siddiq believes the case is politically motivated, targeting her aunt, Sheikh Hasina.

UK Labour MP Tulip Siddiq was sentenced to two years in prison in Bangladesh after being tried in absentia on corruption charges. The trial, which began in Dhaka in August, stemmed from allegations that Siddiq used her influence with her aunt, former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, to secure land for her family. Siddiq, who resides in London, denies the charges and is unlikely to serve the sentence. Prosecutors claim she was tried as a Bangladeshi citizen, citing passport and ID information, which her lawyers dispute. The case is part of a broader series of legal actions against Hasina, her associates, and family since her regime was overturned. The Labour Party has stated they do not recognize the judgement.