The conviction of UK Labour MP Tulip Rizwana Siddiq to two years in prison by a Dhaka court has generated extensive coverage across major British media outlets, many of which underscored the political overtones of the case and the improbability of her ever serving the sentence.
Tulip Siddiq, a niece of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, was convicted in absentia on charges linked to alleged irregularities in a Rajuk plot allocation. She was also fined Tk1 lakh, with an additional six months in jail if the fine remains unpaid. Neither Tulip nor other members of the Hasina family who are accused in the case were present in court when the verdict was delivered on Monday (December 1).
British media placed strong emphasis on the context surrounding the trial, Tulip’s rejection of the charges, and the absence of an extradition treaty between the UK and Bangladesh.
The Guardian led with the headline, “Bangladesh court sentences UK MP Tulip Siddiq to two years prison in absentia,” noting that Siddiq condemned the prosecution’s evidence as forged and the trial itself as politically motivated. The paper also highlighted that she was prosecuted as a Bangladeshi citizen, despite claiming she has not held a Bangladeshi passport since childhood and has never paid taxes in the country.
The Telegraph carried a similar headline, reporting that Tulip described the proceedings as a “farce” built on fabricated allegations and driven by political vendetta. Citing courtroom statements, the paper noted that prosecutors accused Tulip of using her influence over Sheikh Hasina to unlawfully secure a plot allocation for her family.
The BBC published its report under the headline, “Tulip Siddiq MP given jail sentence in Bangladesh after trial in her absence.” It recalled Tulip’s earlier statement that investigators had circulated false allegations through the media without formally presenting any credible evidence to her. Following the verdict, she has issued no public comments.
The Financial Times also covered the development, reporting that Tulip recently thanked a team of prominent lawyers, including Cherie Blair, for drawing attention to what she described as fundamental flaws in Bangladesh’s criminal justice system.
Tulip Siddiq’s legal troubles have been a recurring subject of debate in both the UK and Bangladesh, particularly since the 2024 mass uprising and her resignation from the British government over allegations related to the Rooppur nuclear power project.
Her conviction has now reignited political scrutiny in the UK media, which continues to question the broader implications of the case.
PT/ra
