Tulip sends legal notice to CA, alleges govt waging defamation campaign

Tulip Siddiq, a UK lawmaker and niece of ousted dictator Sheikh Hasina, has alleged Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus of waging a smear campaign to tarnish her reputation and undermine her public works in London.

Unless Bangladesh authorities provide a proper response to Tulip by 30 June regarding their “trumped up” corruption probes against her, the Labour lawmaker will consider the issues closed, says a legal notice sent to the chief adviser and Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).

The Sky News ran a report on the legal notice on Monday.

As per the legal notice, Tulip had also requested a meeting with the Bangladeshi interim government leader during his official visit to the UK earlier this month to "clear up" any misunderstandings.

But this was turned down by the chief adviser, who said he did not want to "interrupt a legal procedure".

The Labour MP also said comments made by Professor Muhammad Yunus in a Sky News interview have prejudiced her right to a fair investigation, meaning the ongoing corruption inquiries into her should be dropped.

In March, the chief adviser - who is effectively the country's interim leader - told Sky News that Tulip "has so many (sic) wealth left behind here" and "should be made responsible".

"The copious briefings to the media, the failure to respond to our letters [seeking clarification and dialogue], the failure to even ask to meet with and question Ms Siddiq [Tulip] during their recent visit to the United Kingdom are impossible to justify and completely inconsistent with a fair, lawful and serious investigation," reads the legal notice.

The legal notice also sets a deadline of 30 June 2025 for the Bangladeshi authorities to reply, and states that "in the absence of a full and proper response… Ms Siddiq will consider this matter closed".

Sky News has approached the chief adviser and the ACC for comment.

The Bangladeshi authorities have previously said they have evidence to back up their claims of corruption and will pursue action through the country's courts.

Speaking to Sky News on Monday, Tulip said: "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."

A former Nobel Prize winning economist, Professor Muhammad Yunus became interim leader of Bangladesh last August after weeks of deadly protests forced Sheikh Hasina from power.

He has pledged to root out corruption and recover alleged stolen wealth before holding votes to elect a permanent administration.