British minister resigns over corruption in Bangladesh

(CLO) The UK's Minister for Financial Services and Anti-Corruption Tulip Siddiq has resigned following pressure over her financial ties to her aunt, former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Despite Ms Siddiq, 42, having consistently denied any wrongdoing and Prime Minister Keir Starmer expressing his confidence in her, she decided to resign. Mr Starmer accepted her resignation with regret and appointed Emma Reynolds, the former pensions minister, to replace Ms Siddiq.

Mrs. Tulip Siddiq. Photo: tulipsiddiq.com

Sheikh Hasina, who has led Bangladesh since 2009, is under investigation for corruption and money laundering. Siddiq has been named in the probe into her family's possible involvement in the embezzlement of funds from infrastructure projects in Bangladesh, including a $12.65 billion nuclear power plant contract.

Ms Siddiq has also been criticised for her use of UK properties linked to Hasina and her supporters. She lived in a north London house that was given to her family in 2009 by Moin Ghani, a Bangladeshi lawyer who represented Hasina’s government. She has also owned another London property since 2004 without paying for it, reportedly from a developer linked to Hasina’s Awami Party.

Siddiq’s resignation follows the resignation of Transport Secretary Louise Haigh late last year after admitting a minor criminal offence before joining the government. The events pose a challenge for Prime Minister Starmer in maintaining the stability and credibility of his government, especially as his popularity has fallen since Labour’s victory in July’s general election.

Ms Siddiq’s resignation has also raised questions about Starmer’s leadership and the time he has spent dealing with issues involving members of the government. Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has criticised Starmer for not acting sooner to address the Siddiq situation.

Cao Phong (according to UKP, Al Jazeera, Reuters)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/bo-truong-chong-tham-nhung-anh-tu-chuc-do-lien-quan-den-tham-nhung-o-bangladesh-post330464.html