Latest news with #Siddiq
News18
24-06-2025
- Politics
- News18
Bangladesh's Yunus ‘Interfering' In UK Politics: Sheikh Hasina's Niece Alleges Persecution
Last Updated: Sheikh Hasina's niece Tulip Siddiq, who is a Labour MP in the UK, alleged that Bangladesh's Muhammad Yunus was "interfering" in the British politics. Tulip Siddiq, a Labour MP in the United Kingdom and niece of Sheikh Hasina, has described the allegations made by Bangladesh interim government head, Muhammad Yunus, as a 'political vendetta" and an effort to harm her reputation. She also accused Yunus of attempting to interfere in UK politics. The Anti-Corruption Commission of Bangladesh had launched an investigation into the allegations against her, which are linked to corruption cases involving deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Earlier in March this year, Yunus said that Siddiq has 'much wealth left behind in Bangladesh" and called for making her responsible for the same. He had also declined to meet her during his visit to the UK earlier this month. Back in January, Siddiq resigned from her position as Treasury Minister after corruption allegations surfaced involving her family members, including Sheikh Hasina. Siddiq said that Yunus' remarks during a TV interview had hurt her chances of getting a fair investigation. Because of this, she argued that the ongoing corruption investigations against her should be dropped, Sky News reported. Siddiq's legal team sent a letter to Muhammad Yunus and ACC on Monday, calling for putting the probe to an end. The letter termed the allegations against her baseless and an effort to harm her reputation. 'I will not be allowing them to drag me into their world of dirty politics, and nothing is going to stop me from pursuing the job that I was elected to do with an overwhelming majority, which is representing the people of Hampstead and Highgate. So they need to stop this political vendetta, this smear campaign, and this malicious persecution right from the beginning," she told Sky News on Monday. The Bangladeshi investigation agency has accused Siddiq of illegally acquiring land during the time her aunt, Sheikh Hasina, was in power. Officials from the interim government in Dhaka estimate that about $234 billion (around 27.38 lakh crore Taka) was taken out of the country through corruption during Hasina's rule. They also claim that a large part of this money has been hidden or spent in the UK. Yunus's Press Secretary, Shafiqul Alam, dismissed the allegations of interfering in the UK politics and said that all cases against Siddiq would be dealt with in the courts in Bangladesh. First Published: June 24, 2025, 21:23 IST
India Today
24-06-2025
- Politics
- India Today
Yunus interfering in UK politics: Hasina's niece Tulip alleges smear campaign
UK Labour MP and the niece of deposed Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Tulip Siddiq, has accused the interim head of the interim government in Dhaka, Muhammad Yunus, of carrying out a coordinated effort to interfere in UK politics and harming her Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) launched a probe into the allegations against Siddiq linked to Sheikh Hasina's corruption had to leave Bangladesh in August 2024 after protests against her government intensified. Siddiq's claims come weeks after Yunus, while on his UK trip, declined to meet her, which she said was to "clear the misunderstandings". Months ago in January, Siddiq stepped down from her role as Treasury minister following corruption allegations involving her family members, including Labour MP said that statements made by Yunus in a TV interview had affected her chances of getting a fair investigation, meaning the ongoing corruption enquiries into her should be dropped, Sky News in March said that Siddiq "has so much wealth left behind in Bangladesh" and "should be made responsible".SIDDIQ TERMS ALL THE ALLEGATION AGAINST HER AS 'BASELESS, UNLAWFUL'In a letter sent on Monday, June 23, to Muhammad Yunus and Bangladesh's ACC, Siddiq's legal team stated that it is time for the chief adviser and the probe agency to end the investigation, calling it a baseless and unlawful effort to damage her reputation and disrupt her public termed all the allegations against her as a "political vendetta.""I will not be allowing them to drag me into their world of dirty politics and nothing is going to stop me from pursuing the job that I was elected to do with an overwhelming majority, which is representing the people of Hampstead and Highgate," she told Sky News on Monday."So they need to stop this political vendetta, this smear campaign, and this malicious persecution right from the beginning," she this month, Siddiq sought a meeting with the Bangladeshi leader during his official UK visit to clarify what she described as a "misunderstanding" related to corruption allegations. However, the chief adviser declined, stating he did not want to "disrupt an ongoing legal process".The Bangladeshi probe agency accused Siddiq of illegally receiving land during the rule of her aunt, Sheikh Hasina. Officials of the interim regime in Dhaka estimate that roughly $234 billion (approximately 27.38 lakh crore Taka) was illegally taken out of the country through corruption during Hasina's time in office. They claim that a significant portion of these funds has been hidden or used in the AGAINST SIDDIQ MAY PROCEED IN ABSENTIA: DHAKAYunus's Press Secretary, Shafiqul Alam, denied Siddiq's charges of interference in British politics. He added that all cases pending against her would be resolved in the Bangladesh response to Siddiq's letter, Shafiqul Alam stated that the chief adviser and Bangladesh's ACC have no justification or authority to involve themselves in UK political matters."The Anti-Corruption Commission relies not on hearsay but on documentary evidence and witness testimony," Sky News quoted Alam as saying. "We hope both the British legal system and the British press appreciate that any pending criminal charge will be resolved in the courts under the provisions of the laws of the land.""Since the courts have summoned Miss Siddiq and warrants have also been issued, it is her responsibility to defend her position in court," Alam added."If she needs any legal support and is unable to obtain it herself, Bangladesh will provide it. If Miss Siddiq wilfully ignores the court summons, proceedings against her may proceed in absentia," Alam concluded.- Ends
New Indian Express
17-06-2025
- New Indian Express
Lose yourself in Sufi meditation bliss at Rumi Retreat
KOZHIKODE: The Sufi Foundation of India is arranging a retreat in Kozhikode on June 21 for those who want to immerse themselves in the bliss of Sufi meditation and learn how to practice it in daily life. Titled Rumi Retreat, the programme spanning an entire day will be led by meditation master Siddiq Muhammad and Sufi musician and retreater Sameer Binsi. 'Mystic and poet Jalaluddin Rumi is known to the people of Kerala as an author. However, there is a Sufi path known by his name that is seldom discussed here. Rumi Retreat will perhaps be the first event of its kind in the country. Our order is modelled on the ones in the US,' said Siddiq. There are many Sufi tariqas in Kerala that follow different paths. 'Ours is unique as there are no caste, gender or religious segregations. Anyone can join it and experience bliss,' he said. Siddiq said he was attracted to the verses of Rumi through the works of Guru Nitya Chaitanya Yati, who translated his work 'Masnavi' into Malayalam. 'Guru had stated that for 40 years, Rumi's book was with him everywhere he travelled. I learned the Persian language to understand the book in its original form and translated into Malayalam. For the past five years, I have been engaged in a programme called 'Masnavi Mananam' and have completed around 1,000 classes,' Siddiq said.
ITV News
13-06-2025
- Politics
- ITV News
Bangladesh leader says Tulip Siddiq should face court and declines to meet her
ITV News Political Correspondent Shehab Khan sat down with Bangladesh's interim leader, Muhammad Yunus Bangladesh's interim leader, Muhammad Yunus, has urged Labour MP Tulip Siddiq to return to the country and face trial over corruption allegations, rejecting her request for a meeting during his official visit to the UK. Yunus, a Nobel Peace Prize-winning economist currently heading a caretaker government in Dhaka, declined Siddiq's invitation to discuss the charges brought against her by Bangladesh's Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). He told ITV News that any allegations should be dealt with in court, not through political dialogue. 'If she has allegations against her, she should appear in court to face a trial,' Yunus said. He later added: 'I have not spoken to her. I took it as a legal process and it should be done in a legal way, I should not get involved.' An arrest warrant was recently issued for Siddiq by Bangladeshi authorities, following accusations that she illegally obtained a 7,200-square-foot plot of land in Dhaka. The investigation, according to Bangladeshi officials, is separate from an ongoing probe into a controversial nuclear power plant deal involving Siddiq's aunt, Sheikh Hasina, the former Prime Minister of Bangladesh. Siddiq, MP for Hampstead and Highgate and a former UK Treasury minister, has strongly denied the allegations. Her legal team described the charges as 'politically motivated' and claimed that attempts to engage with the Bangladeshi authorities had been ignored. She had written to Yunus ahead of his visit to the United Kingdom, asking to meet, so she could help to 'clear up the misunderstanding perpetuated by the Anti-Corruption Commission in Dhaka.' In a statement, Siddiq said she was disappointed by Yunus' refusal to meet and accused him of fueling a campaign of politically charged misinformation. She said: "He's been at the heart of a political vendetta based on fantasy accusations with no evidence relentlessly briefed to the media. "If this was a serious legal process they would engage with my lawyers rather than sending bogus correspondence to an address in Dhaka where I have never lived. Siddiq resigned from her ministerial role earlier this year after referring herself to the UK government's ethics adviser, Sir Laurie Magnus, in light of the property allegations involving her family. While Magnus concluded she had not breached the ministerial code, he noted that she should have been 'more alert to the potential reputational risks' posed by her family's ties to Bangladeshi politics. From Westminster to Washington DC - our political experts are across all the latest key talking points. Listen to the latest episode below...
MTV Lebanon
12-06-2025
- Politics
- MTV Lebanon
12 Jun 2025 19:03 PM Bangladesh leader declines to meet Tulip Siddiq
Bangladesh's interim leader Muhammad Yunus has refused to meet Labour MP Tulip Siddiq to discuss corruption allegations against her during his visit to London. Yunus told the BBC the allegations were a "court matter" and said he had confidence in Bangladesh's Anti-Corruption Commission (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 last year. Siddiq, a former Treasury minister, has denied the allegations and accused the Bangladeshi authorities of a "politically motivated smear campaign". In a letter, Siddiq requested a meeting with Yunus, a Nobel-prize winning economist who has led an interim government in Bangladesh since a student-led protest movement toppled Hasina from power. Siddiq said a meeting "might also help clear up the misunderstanding perpetuated by the Anti-Corruption Commission in Dhaka". In an interview with the BBC, Yunus was asked whether he would meet Siddiq during his four-day visit to the UK this week. "No I'm not because it's a legal procedure," Yunus said. "I don't want to interrupt a legal procedure. Let the procedure continue." Siddiq has argued Bangladeshi authorities have not provided any evidence to back up their allegations and refuse to engage with her lawyers. Responding to those arguments, Yunus said: "It's a court matter. "A court will decide if enough materials are available to pursue the case or cancel it". When asked if prosecutors in Bangladesh needed to be more transparent and provide evidence of wrongdoing to Siddiq, Yunus said: "As chief adviser I have full confidence in our Anti-Corruption Commission and they are doing the right thing." On the question of whether he would seek Siddiq's extradition if she was found guilty of any crimes in Bangladesh, Yunus said: "If it is part of the legal procedure, of course."
