Tulip’s campaign flyers found in Hasina’s residence
Labour MP Tulip Siddiq’s campaign materials have been discovered in the ransacked official residence of Sheikh Hasina, her aunt and the deposed Bangladeshi prime minister, raising fresh questions about her ties to the controversial regime.
The flyers and posters, covered in dust and debris, were found among an array of extravagant items, including Chanel and Swarovski shopping bags, gold-trimmed Montblanc pens, and certificates for diamonds. These items were part of a collection unearthed in the Ganabhaban, Hasina’s former official residence in Dhaka, now under the custody of Bangladesh's interim government, reports The Times.
The items found in the residence included a crumpled legal document advising on halting investigative journalism about the regime, diplomatic cables related to the assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman (Hasina’s father), and an application to open an overseas bank account. Tulip’s campaign flyers sat alongside personal artifacts of Hasina’s luxurious lifestyle, further complicating Tulip’s attempts to distance herself from her aunt’s administration.
Ties to controversy
Tulip, the MP for Hampstead and Kilburn and currently an economic secretary in the UK Treasury, has consistently denied benefiting from her aunt’s regime. She has referred herself to the UK Prime Minister’s standards adviser, asserting her innocence in allegations of corruption tied to the Rooppur nuclear power project and other ventures.
Despite her denials, the discovery of her campaign materials in such a politically charged location has intensified calls for her resignation. Shadow Chancellor Mel Stride and Tory leader Kemi Badenoch have urged Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer to address the issue, describing Siddiq’s position as "untenable."
Ganabhaban’s transformation
Since Sheikh Hasina’s ousting in August 2024, the Ganabhaban has been taken over by Bangladesh's interim government, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus. Plans are underway to convert the site into a museum warning against the dangers of authoritarianism and corruption. The residence, with its extensive gardens and lake, remains heavily guarded by the paramilitary force Bangladesh Ansar.
Artifacts left behind reveal Hasina’s opulence: gold-painted furniture, luxury personal items, and a vast collection of gifts from international dignitaries, including Emmanuel Macron and Wang Yi. Graffiti on the walls—some reading “Killer Hasina” and “Modi’s wife fled”—reflects public anger towards her administration, which has been accused of crimes against humanity and large-scale corruption.
Tulip’s position
Tulip’s critics point to her use of London properties linked to the Awami League, Hasina’s party, some of which were purchased through offshore trusts named in the Panama Papers. While these properties are not under formal investigation, the revelations have cast a shadow over Tulip’s political career and her claims of independence from her aunt’s regime.
As the Ganabhaban undergoes its transformation into a museum, Tulip faces mounting pressure to address these allegations. Meanwhile, her connections to Hasina continue to stir debate within UK politics and beyond, as her party grapples with the political fallout.
Source: The Times