The chief adviser to the interim government, Dr. Muhammad Yunus, has called on Tulip Siddique, UK City Minister and daughter of Bangabandhu's daughter Sheikh Rehana, to apologize.
He made this call in an interview with the British media outlet Sunday Times at Jamuna, his official residence in Dhaka, last Thursday.
Dr. Muhammad Yunus said, "She should apologize for enjoying the properties given to her (Tulip) and her family during Sheikh Hasina's dictatorial regime. The properties that Tulip Siddique uses in London also need to be investigated. If it is proven that she acquired these properties through "complete robbery", then they should be returned."
Economist and Nobel Peace Prize winner Dr. Muhammad Yunus has been leading the interim government since August 8 last year. He told the Sunday Times, “Tulip Siddique, who is the British government’s Treasury and City Minister in charge of combating financial corruption, should be investigated for embezzling money to build her London homes.”
The Sunday Times reported that they have confirmed through their investigation that Tulip Siddique has lived in a house for years, which was bought by two Bangladeshi businessmen through an offshore company. However, she has always spoken out to avoid such financial opacity.
Tulip Siddique is the daughter of Sheikh Rehana, the sister of former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Sheikh Hasina fled the country to India in the face of a massive uprising on August 5 last year. It is alleged that she killed hundreds of people with the help of police forces to prevent the uprising before fleeing to India. She is also accused of crimes against humanity, enforced disappearances and corruption.
The Sunday Times also reported that Tulip mediated the Bangladesh government's nuclear energy deal with Russia during Sheikh Hasina's rule and benefited financially. The Bangladesh Anti-Corruption Commission is investigating her corruption allegations. However, Tulip has denied the corruption allegations against her.
Dr. Muhammad Yunus said that Tulip became the British government's anti-corruption minister and corruption allegations have been made against her. Nothing could be more ridiculous.
Dr. Yunus also said, 'She may not have understood when she did it (corruption). But now she understands. Now you should say, I am sorry. I did not know about it (corruption) then. Now I am apologizing to the people and resigning. But I am not saying that. Rather, she is trying to protect herself.'
Dr. Yunus immediately said, 'It is not my job to say that she (Tulip) should resign.'