Former UK Treasury minister and Labour MP Tulip Siddiq has received a second prison sentence from a Bangladeshi court, deepening a legal dispute that has drawn strong criticism from the Labour Party.
The court sentenced Siddiq to four years in jail on corruption charges. This punishment adds to a previous two year sentence handed down late last year. Judges also sentenced her aunt, former Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina, along with two other family members, in separate corruption cases.
The court tried all defendants in absentia. Each of them denied the accusations.
Labour Party condemns legal process
Labour leaders quickly rejected the ruling and questioned the fairness of the trial. A party spokesperson said Siddiq never received proper details of the charges and had no chance to defend herself.
According to Labour, Siddiq’s legal team made repeated requests to Bangladeshi authorities for information. Officials did not respond. The party stressed that every accused person deserves the right to legal representation.
Because of these failures, Labour said it cannot accept the judgment.
Background of earlier conviction
In December 2025, a Bangladeshi court convicted Siddiq in another corruption case. Judges ruled that she influenced her aunt to use special executive powers to secure land on the outskirts of Dhaka.
That conviction resulted in a two year prison sentence. Siddiq strongly rejected the ruling and described the entire process as deeply flawed.
She said she remains confused by the case and claims Bangladeshi authorities have never contacted her directly, despite making allegations for more than a year.
Resignation from UK government role
Questions about Siddiq’s links to Sheikh Hasina led to her resignation from the UK government in January 2025. She stepped down as a Treasury minister after scrutiny over her use of London properties linked to allies of her aunt.
The prime minister’s ethics adviser, Sir Laurie Magnus, reviewed the matter. He found no evidence of wrongdoing but said Siddiq should have shown greater awareness of reputational risks.
In her resignation letter, Siddiq said she acted transparently but chose to step aside to avoid distracting the government.
Political turmoil in Bangladesh
Bangladesh launched the cases against Hasina and her family after her removal from power. Hasina ruled the country for 15 years before mass protests forced her out in August 2024.
She later fled to India. In a separate case last year, a court sentenced her to death over crimes against humanity linked to a violent crackdown on student demonstrations.
