Developer who gave flat  linked with aunt Sheikh Hasina’s party Siddiq’s property gift raises questions amid corruption charges levelled against her by the Bangladesh Anti-Corruption Commission

Tulip Siddiq, UK Economic Secretary to the Treasury and niece of Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, received a two-bedroom apartment in Central London as a gift in 2004, according to Financial Times. 

Land Registry filings reveal that the flat near King’s Cross was transferred to Siddiq without payment by Abdul Motalif, a property developer and associate of figures linked to Hasina's Awami League.

The property, purchased in 2001 for £195,000, remains in Siddiq’s possession. A spokesperson for Siddiq dismissed allegations linking the gift to her family’s political ties, stating, “Any suggestion of improper links is categorically wrong.”

Motalif confirmed owning the property but declined to comment further. A source familiar with the matter claimed the gift was an act of gratitude for financial support provided by Siddiq’s parents during a challenging time in Motalif’s life. Electoral roll records show Siddiq lived in the flat in the early 2000s, with her siblings residing there for several years.

The transfer occurred before Siddiq became an MP in 2015, exempting her from disclosing it under parliamentary rules. However, her current financial disclosures list rental income from two properties, including the King’s Cross flat. In 2018, she extended its lease for £90,000.

The gift raises fresh scrutiny amid a broader investigation in Bangladesh into alleged corruption involving Siddiq’s family. The inquiry was prompted by claims from a political rival accusing Sheikh Hasina’s family of taking kickbacks from a Russia-backed nuclear power project—allegations they deny.

Siddiq, a long-time Labour Party member, also has past ties to the Awami League, having worked for its EU and UK lobbying unit. UK-based affiliates of the Awami League have supported her during election campaigns. At a 2015 event honoring Hasina, Siddiq acknowledged their support, saying, “I wouldn’t be here without your help.”

Parliament’s standards commissioner reprimanded Siddiq last year for failing to declare rental income on another property. Despite this, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has expressed confidence in her, stating there is no evidence of wrongdoing.