The UK Conservative Party has called on Prime Minister Keir Starmer to remove Labour MP and Treasury Minister Tulip Siddiq from her ministerial duties following allegations of corruption. Siddiq, responsible for anti-corruption initiatives within the Treasury, has been accused of embezzling $5 billion from Bangladesh's Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant project.

The allegations were reported by British newspaper Daily Mail, which noted that the Rooppur project is being constructed by Russia's state-owned company Rosatom. Siddiq’s role in the British government involves oversight of sanctions imposed on Rosatom and related entities due to the Russia-Ukraine conflict. The accusations surfaced while Siddiq was monitoring the implementation of these financial sanctions.

On Saturday night, Conservative Party spokesperson Matt Vickers urged the British Prime Minister to ensure that Siddiq is removed from all decision-making processes involving sanctions and anti-corruption policies until the allegations against her are fully investigated.

This development follows an earlier questioning of Siddiq by UK Cabinet officials over the corruption claims. The Cabinet’s Committee on Ethics and Standards reportedly interrogated her about the matter.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh’s Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has initiated an investigation into Siddiq, her mother Sheikh Rehana, and her aunt Sheikh Hasina. The inquiry, ordered by Bangladesh’s High Court, alleges that Siddiq and her family laundered $5 billion from the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant through fake companies and offshore accounts in Malaysia, the UK, and the US.

According to Daily Mail, ACC investigators are collecting documents and evidence to substantiate the claims. They are expected to issue letters to the accused, including Siddiq, within weeks. These letters will likely be sent via the British High Commission in Dhaka.

An unnamed ACC official stated that upon receiving responses, investigators would decide whether to file formal charges (FIR) against Siddiq and others involved. If an FIR is filed, Siddiq could officially be identified as a suspect, enabling Bangladeshi authorities to request her arrest.

ACC Director-General Akhtar Hossain remarked that the letters would allow Siddiq and her family members to provide explanations and defend themselves against the allegations. However, the ACC has stressed that the investigation is still in its early stages, and no conclusions have been reached yet.

The Conservative Party has heightened its pressure on the Labour government, with one of its MPs reportedly writing to the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner, urging an independent investigation into Siddiq’s alleged misconduct.

In response, Labour Party officials dismissed the allegations as baseless and politically motivated. They asserted that Siddiq has denied all accusations and that no formal communication regarding the matter has been made to her thus far.

However, the case has drawn international attention. In October, investigators from the UK’s National Crime Agency visited Bangladesh to assist with ongoing corruption inquiries. These investigations are part of broader efforts to recover funds allegedly misappropriated by Bangladeshi officials.

Labour leaders maintain their stance that Siddiq is innocent and stress the absence of any direct action or communication implicating her. They emphasized that the accusations, fueled by opposition forces, aim to tarnish her reputation.

Despite Labour’s denials, calls for Siddiq’s suspension have intensified, with growing demands for transparency and accountability in the face of these serious allegations. As the investigation unfolds, the political and diplomatic implications for both the UK and Bangladesh are expected to deepen.