More questions raised about Siddiq after ‘opulent’ ‘Tulip’s territory’ revelations

Tulip Siddiq resigned as anti-corruption minister this month to avoid ‘distraction’, but ties to luxury properties are under investigation by Anti-Corruption Commission, Bangladeshi media report

Hampstead and Highgate MP Tulip Siddiq resigned as Keir Starmer’s ‘anti-corruption minister’ earlier this month after she was named in a Bangladeshi anti-corruption investigation into the alleged embezzlement of up to £3.9 billion from infrastructure projects in the country by her family – toppled Bangladeshi PM Sheikh Hasina is her maternal aunt.

Siddiq was accused of involvement in a huge deal with Russia for a nuclear power plant in Bangladesh from which the huge sum was embezzled, of ‘pressuring her aunt’s regime to allocate land to her family members’ – and of using plush apartments in London provided by associated of her mother’s family. She has denied any wrongdoing or any involvement in the alleged fraud and a brief parliamentary standards investigation found no wrongdoing, but Siddiq said she was resigning because the issue was a ‘distraction’ for the government, despite Starmer giving her the often-dreaded statement of confidence.

But now new details have emerged in Bangladeshi media that raise further questions, particularly in connection to the acquisition of huge ‘opulent’ holiday properties in Bangladesh, with one even named “Tulip’s Territory”. According to Bangla Outlook:

These properties, acquired over the years, were intended as private retreats for leisure and relaxation. However, following the fall of the government, several of these vacation homes became the targets of angry mobs.

The discoveries come amid growing controversy surrounding Sheikh Rehana’s family, especially her daughter, Tulip Siddiq, who has faced allegations of unethical conduct in the United Kingdom.

The recent resignation of Tulip has only fueled public suspicion. In response, Bangladesh’s Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has launched an investigation into the family’s extensive wealth.

Early findings suggest substantial assets, far beyond what had been previously known.

One of the most notable properties is located in Kanaiya, within the Gazipur Metropolitan area, about 15 kilometers from Joydebpur.

The area, characterized by a mix of paved and dirt roads lined with rows of trees, offers a tranquil and lush environment.

Here, a grand vacation home was built in the name of Tulip Siddiq.

Spanning nearly 35 bighas (about 11 acres), this property—aptly named “Tulip’s Territory”—is a luxurious estate featuring a sprawling bungalow, a pond, and an array of flowering and fruit-bearing trees.

But Tulip’s Territory is only the tip of the iceberg. Investigations have uncovered that Sheikh Rehana’s family possesses other high-value assets in the Gazipur region, with a total estimated worth exceeding 150 crore taka (around $15 million).

These properties, designed with opulence in mind and surrounded by verdant greenery, appear to have been built for the exclusive use of the family.

‘Sources close to the estate’ told Bangladeshi daily Manab Zameen that no family members have visited Tulip’s Territory since the fall of Siddiq’s aunt Sheikh Hasina, but that Siddiq’s father remains ‘in charge of the property’s management’ including the payment of security staff.

And according to the Bangladeshi Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), several other properties under investigation are also linked to Tulip Siddiq and her family, worth some £17m. The ACC has said that it is on site at all the properties as part of its investigation.

In 2018, Siddiq was revealed to be named on the list of supporters of the right-wing ‘Labour Friends of Israel’ that was sabotaging Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership of the Labour party, but claimed that her name had been added without her consent.

New Bangladeshi leader Muhammad Yunus has said that London properties used by Ms Siddiq should be investigated and handed back to his government if they were acquired through “plain robbery”. He added:

She becomes the minister for anti-corruption and defends herself. Maybe you didn’t realise it, but now you realise it.

You say: ‘Sorry, I didn’t know it (at) that time, I seek forgiveness from the people that I did this and I resign.’ She’s not saying that. She’s defending herself.

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