Tulip Siddiq summoned by the Anti-Corruption Commission in bribery case

ছবিঃ সংগৃহীত

News Desk: Tulip Rizwana Siddiq, British MP and niece of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, has been summoned by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) for questioning in connection with a bribery case. She has been asked to appear at the ACC headquarters at 10:00 AM on May 14 to provide her statement as an accused in a case involving allegations of accepting an apartment as a bribe from Eastern Housing Limited.

This information comes from a notice issued by the ACC on Thursday (May 8).

Reportedly, the notice was sent on Wednesday (May 7) to her residences in Dhanmondi and Gulshan-2.

In separate notices, two other accused in the same case—Shah Khasruzzaman, former Assistant Legal Advisor of RAJUK, and Sardar Mosharraf Hossain—have also been summoned to appear on May 14.

According to sources, the ACC filed the case on April 15, alleging that Tulip Siddiq received an apartment as a bribe from Eastern Housing Limited in exchange for facilitating the illegal transfer of a plot in Dhaka’s Gulshan area. ACC Assistant Director Monirul Islam filed the case against Tulip Siddiq and two former RAJUK officials at the ACC’s Dhaka Integrated District Office.

The other accused in the case are Shah Md. Khasruzzaman, former Assistant Legal Advisor of RAJUK, and Sardar Mosharraf Hossain.

The case statement says that in 1963, a plot measuring 1 bigha, 19 kathas, and 13 chhataks was allocated in Gulshan to then-Justice Imam Hossain Chowdhury. As per the 99-year government lease agreement, the plot was not allowed to be transferred or sold in parts. However, in 1973, the plot was transferred to Md. Mojibur Rahman Bhuiyan through power of attorney. Over time, the plot was subdivided and sold, and construction began under Eastern Housing Limited, led by Chairman Jahurul Islam. After his death, disputes arose among his heirs, leading to legal proceedings.

Despite the legal dispute and the ban on transfers, RAJUK’s legal advisors illegally approved the transfer of flats to Eastern Housing—even though the company was not a leaseholder or a legal representative. According to RAJUK records, plot transfers were not permitted before the expiry of the 99-year lease period. Nevertheless, Eastern Housing was approved as power of attorney, and allowed to construct and hand over 36 flats—an act deemed illegal.

The case statement further alleges that by violating lease conditions, arrangements were made for an illegal transfer. In return, Tulip Siddiq allegedly accepted an apartment from Eastern Housing as an "unlawful benefit." She is accused of using undue influence to obtain power of attorney and flat sale approval for Eastern Housing, thereby gaining and providing illegal advantages. This, according to the ACC, constitutes a punishable offense.

The accused have been charged under sections 120B/409/161/162/163/164/165(A)/109 of the Penal Code and section 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947.

The investigation team, led by ACC Deputy Director Md. Monirul Islam, comprises seven members and is tasked with probing various allegations involving the families of Sheikh Hasina and Sheikh Rehana. Other members include Assistant Directors Afnan Jannat Keya, Mubasshira Atia Tama, S.M. Rashedul Hasan, A.K.M. Mortuza Ali Sagar, Md. Monirul Islam, and Deputy Assistant Director Md. Abdullah Al Mamun.

Previously, the ACC also accused Tulip Siddiq in a separate plot corruption case involving land in Purbachal. In that case, a warrant was issued for her arrest as a co-accused. On March 10, the ACC filed six separate charge sheets against members of Sheikh Hasina and Sheikh Rehana's family, former State Minister Sharif Ahmed, former Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister Salauddin, and 14 officials from the Ministry of Housing and Public Works.