Labour MP and former minister Tulip Siddiq has vehemently criticized the Bangladeshi authorities, claiming they are conducting a politically charged smear campaign against her. This statement comes in the wake of an arrest warrant issued by Bangladesh's Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), which is currently investigating allegations that Siddiq unlawfully received land as part of a broader investigation into the regime of her aunt, Sheikh Hasina, who was deposed as prime minister in August.

Siddiq, who represents the Hampstead and Highgate constituency and stepped down from her role as economic secretary to the Treasury earlier this year, was named in the arrest warrant alongside over 50 other individuals. This extensive list raises questions about the motivations behind the warrant and the integrity of the investigation itself.

In a statement to reporters, Siddiq expressed her frustration, stating, My lawyers proactively wrote to the Bangladeshi authorities, and they never responded. Im sure youll understand I cant dignify this politically motivated smear campaign with any context or any comments. Its a completely politically motivated smear campaign trying to harass me. There is no evidence that Ive done anything wrong.

Extradition is a complex legal process that allows one country to request the surrender of an individual from another country to face criminal charges. In this case, the UK lists Bangladesh as a 2B extradition country, which means that clear evidence must be presented before UK ministers and judges can make a decision regarding any extradition request. This legal framework underscores the importance of due process and the necessity for credible evidence in international legal matters.

A spokesman for the UK Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, commented on the situation, noting that he would not be making any statements regarding individual cases, emphasizing the government's practice of not intervening in specific legal matters.

On Sunday, Siddiq's legal team made it clear that the ACC had made several allegations against her through the media in recent months, describing these claims as completely false. Her lawyers, from the firm Stephenson Harwood, released a formal statement asserting, "The allegations are completely false and have been dealt with in writing by Ms. Siddiq's lawyers, which was subsequently reported by the BBC.