Top UK Lawyers Raise Alarm Over ‘Unfair’ Trial of Labour MP Tulip Siddiq in Bangladesh

In an open letter hand delivered to the Bangladeshi High Commission, leading barrister Cherie Blair wife of former prime minister Tony Blair and two former Conservative cabinet ministers, Sir Robert Buckland and Dominic Grieve, warned that the case raises “profound concerns” about fairness and due process.
“Artificial and contrived” prosecution
The letter claims the criminal proceedings against Ms Siddiq are “artificial”, “contrived”, and represent an unfair way of targeting her.
Ms Siddiq stepped down as city minister earlier this year after she was accused of illegally receiving a 7,200 sq ft plot of land in a luxury development near Dhaka from her aunt former Bangladeshi prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who was ousted from power last year.
Bangladesh’s Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) says the land was obtained through abuse of influence.
However, an investigation by the UK prime minister’s ethics adviser found no evidence of wrongdoing, although it noted Ms Siddiq should have been more aware of possible reputational risks.
Trial in Bangladesh nearing verdict
The trial in Dhaka began in August, and reports suggest a verdict could be delivered within days.
Ms Siddiq has not attended the proceedings, insisting the charges are false and part of a politically motivated smear campaign.
Tensions around the case increased earlier this month when her aunt, Sheikh Hasina, was sentenced to death by a Bangladeshi court after being found guilty of crimes against humanity.
No chance to defend herself, say UK lawyers
In their letter, the legal signatories argue that Ms Siddiq has been denied a fair chance to defend herself, saying the trial “falls far short of international standards of fairness.”
They also criticised the decision to try her in absentia, saying there was no proper justification for proceeding without her participation.