ACC to prosecute British MP Tulip Siddiq

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has approved a chargesheet against UK Labour MP Tulip Siddiq over allegations that she received a flat at Dhaka's Gulshan as a bribe.

The flat was allegedly obtained from Eastern Housing Limited after orchestrating the illegal transfer of a plot through abuse of power.

ACC Director General Akhtar Hossain said the chargesheet was approved by the agency on Thursday.

The case was filed on Apr 15 by ACC Assistant Director Mohammad Monirul Islam at the Dhaka Coordinated District Office, naming Tulip, the niece of ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, as the suspect, bdnews24 reports. After investigation, the chargesheet also named former RAJUK assistant legal advisor Shah Md Khasruzzaman and Sardar Mosharraf Hossain.

An ACC official said investigation officer AKM Mortuza Ali Sagar will submit it to the court soon.

The complaint says the suspects colluded in a "criminal conspiracy and abuse of power" to secure the flat from Eastern Housing.

Tulip allegedly received the flat for free and later leveraged her ties with the then prime minister to secure the title and approvals for the otherwise non-transferable plot.

The chargesheet cites violations under Penal Code sections 161, 165(k), 467, 468, 471, 109, and Section 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947.

Co-suspect Khasruzzaman sought dismissal of the case in the High Court, which granted a three-month stay.

The Appellate Division later issued a "no order", delaying chargesheet submission against him until the matter is resolved.