Tulip Siddiq, the Labour MP and Treasury minister responsible for tackling financial crime and corruption, has faced scrutiny over her family’s ties to properties gifted by allies of Sheikh Hasina, the former Bangladeshi prime minister and her aunt. Siddiq lived in a Hampstead flat in north London, transferred to her teenage sister, Azmina, by Moin Ghani, a lawyer and ally of Hasina. The flat was one of several properties linked to Awami League associates now embroiled in allegations of corruption.
A Gifted Hampstead Residence
In 2009, Ghani transferred the Hampstead flat to Azmina, then 18 and preparing to start her studies at Oxford University, as a “gift.” Land Registry documents show the transfer involved “no money or anything of monetary value.” Tulip Siddiq used the address during her early political and professional roles, listing it on official documents from 2012 to 2016, by which time she was an MP. Azmina eventually sold the flat in 2021 for £650,000.
The King’s Cross Connection
This property is separate from another flat in King’s Cross, also gifted to Siddiq in 2004 by Abdul Motalif, another Awami League ally. Before Siddiq acquired it, Ghani had used the flat. Siddiq retains ownership of this property, valued at over £500,000.
A £2.1 Million Finchley Home
Siddiq currently resides in a Finchley property owned by Abdul Karim Nazim, a prominent UK-based Awami League member. Nazim’s property ventures and close ties to Sheikh Hasina have raised questions, as his companies have faced repeated legal issues, including non-compliance with filing obligations. Despite these controversies, Siddiq rents the home, citing security concerns.
Nazim’s connections to Hasina’s regime are well documented. He has received honours and appointments under Hasina’s government and continues to support Labour Party events. Siddiq defended her rental arrangement, stating she pays market rates.
Family Ties to Awami League Patrons
Siddiq’s mother, Sheikh Rehana, lives in a Golders Green property linked to Shayan Rahman, the son of a Bangladeshi billionaire and political adviser to Hasina. Rahman’s financial dealings are under scrutiny, and his family’s assets were frozen following Hasina’s removal from office in 2024. Meanwhile, another Hampstead property previously used by Siddiq’s family was owned by Awami League executive member Kazi Zafarullah, who was jailed for extortion in 2007.
Sheikh Hasina’s Fall and Allegations of Corruption
Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh’s former prime minister and Siddiq’s aunt, was ousted in 2024 amid allegations of human rights abuses, corruption, and embezzlement. Siddiq has distanced herself from her aunt’s political activities in recent years but previously celebrated her electoral victories and served on her UN delegation.
The current Bangladeshi government accuses Hasina of crimes against humanity, including the deaths of over 800 protesters. The regime has also alleged financial improprieties involving nuclear agreements with Russia, a deal signed during a ceremony attended by Siddiq in Moscow in 2013.
Starmer’s Support Amid Controversy
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has publicly backed Siddiq, a close ally and longtime supporter of his leadership. Siddiq has denied any wrongdoing, calling the allegations a politically motivated smear campaign. She insists she has not been contacted by anti-corruption authorities in Bangladesh or elsewhere.
Critics argue, however, that Siddiq has not provided full transparency about her family’s financial dealings or property arrangements. Questions remain about her ability to oversee financial crime policies while her own ties to allegations of corruption and questionable financial transactions persist.
A Balancing Act
As the Treasury’s economic secretary, Siddiq oversees measures to combat financial crime, money laundering, and illicit finance. While she has recused herself from decisions directly related to Bangladesh, her position places her in a sensitive role.
Siddiq’s ongoing residence in properties linked to Awami League allies, combined with her family’s history of benefiting from similar arrangements, raises broader ethical and political concerns. Her ability to navigate these allegations while maintaining her ministerial responsibilities will likely remain under scrutiny in the coming months.
