• Tulip Siddiq sentenced to two years in prison in absentia for corruption charges in Bangladesh.
• She is accused of influencing her aunt, Sheikh Hasina, to secure land for family members.
• Hasina also sentenced to five years in prison amid a series of corruption trials.
• Siddiq denies the allegations, claiming the trial was politically motivated.
• The UK has no extradition treaty with Bangladesh, complicating potential legal repercussions.

A court in Dhaka has sentenced British MP and former minister Tulip Siddiq to two years in prison after convicting her in absentia for corruption charges related to the illegal allocation of land. She was accused of influencing her aunt, former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, to secure a plot of land for her family, allegations that she has vehemently denied, branding them a politically motivated smear.

The verdict was pronounced by Judge Rabiul Alam in a trial where Siddiq, Hasina, and her sister Sheikh Rehana were all absent. Hasina was also sentenced to five years in prison for her role in the corruption case, which revolved around the allocation of land in the Purbachal New Town project. Both Siddiq and Hasina have contested the fairness of the legal proceedings, claiming they were politically motivated.

Siddiq, who previous held a ministerial position related to financial services and anti-corruption in the UK, resigned from her post in January amid increasing scrutiny of her ties to Hasina's regime. Her resignation was intended to avoid being a distraction to the government, as affirmed by statements made by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer's independent ethics adviser, who did not find evidence of impropriety but noted Siddiq's ties posed reputational risks.

The UK does not have an extradition treaty with Bangladesh, adding complexity to any potential actions against Siddiq concerning the verdict. The process of the trial has faced criticism for lacking fairness, with legal experts raising concerns over the adequacy of Siddiq's legal representation throughout.