A recent viral video on social media has raised questions about Tulip Siddiq's nationality. In the video, the UK Member of Parliament (MP) for the Labour Party and former "City Minister," who is also the niece of Bangladesh's ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, states, "I am not Bangladeshi; I am a British MP." The video has sparked debates about her true citizenship status and political affiliations, especially in relation to her aunt, Sheikh Hasina. Some commentators have used the video as evidence to claim that she is denying her Bangladeshi identity despite her historical links to the country.
However, investigations by Rumor Scanner have revealed that the controversial comment, “I am not Bangladeshi,” was made in 2017. The statement was given in response to a journalist's question about Barrister Ahmed Bin Kasem during a "Channel 4 News" broadcast on November 29, 2017, titled "Tulip Siddiq: MP quizzed over abducted man in Bangladesh."
Despite her repeated references to herself as a “British citizen” in various contexts, official documents and records confirm that Tulip Siddiq is a Bangladeshi national. She holds a Bangladeshi National Identity Card (NID), passport, and Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN), and has filed income tax returns in the country. These documents provide evidence of her dual nationality status, making her a Bangladeshi voter.
Further scrutiny has revealed that Tulip Siddiq's NID number is 5066.....8, issued on January 3, 2011. Her official records list her full name as "Tulip Rizwana Siddiq," with her father’s name as Shafiq Ahmed Siddiq and mother’s name as Rehana Siddiq. Her birth date is recorded as September 16, 1982, and her blood type is B(+). The address listed on her NID is in Dhaka’s Dhanmondi area, a known location associated with her family.
On February 16, 2025, following a shift in the political landscape, the National Identity Registration Division (NIRD) froze the NID records for Tulip Siddiq and ten other family members, including her aunt, Sheikh Hasina.
In addition to her NID, Tulip Siddiq is a registered voter in Bangladesh, with voter number 2613.......9, updated on December 19, 2024. She is also listed as a Bangladeshi taxpayer, holding TIN number 183........4, with tax returns filed since the 2007-08 fiscal year.
Tulip Siddiq also holds Bangladeshi passports. Her first passport, numbered Q .....99, was issued on September 17, 2001, and lists her birthplace and passport issuance location as London, UK. The passport, valid until September 16, 2006, was subsequently renewed in 2011 with a new number, AA .....4. This renewed passport was issued by the Bangladesh government and lists emergency contact information for her uncle, former Prime Minister's Defence Adviser, Tariq Ahmed Siddiq.
However, following the corruption investigation into the government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, several allegations have surfaced against Tulip Siddiq, including accusations of financial irregularities related to the awarding of government plots and buildings. The Bangladesh Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) is currently investigating her role in the alleged misappropriation of land and property.
On April 15, 2025, the ACC filed a case against Tulip Siddiq, accusing her of receiving illegal benefits, including a flat from Eastern Housing Limited, in exchange for facilitating the unlawful transfer of a plot in Dhaka’s Gulshan area. The ACC’s investigation centers on claims that the transfer violated the conditions of a 99-year lease on the plot and was done without proper authorization.
In response to these charges, Tulip Siddiq has denied any wrongdoing, claiming that the allegations are part of a political smear campaign. In an interview with The Guardian, she rejected the accusations, calling them politically motivated and designed to harass her. She has further stated that she has not been contacted by Bangladeshi authorities regarding the legal proceedings.
Tulip Siddiq's name also came up in investigations into corruption related to land allocations in East Dhaka’s Purbachal area. The ACC has filed separate charges against members of Sheikh Hasina’s family and government officials, including Tulip’s involvement in applying pressure to obtain a plot illegally.
Despite these legal issues, Tulip Siddiq has continued her political career in the UK, where she has served as an MP since 2015. In January 2025, she resigned from her position as the UK's "City Minister" following the ongoing investigations into her activities in Bangladesh. She was re-elected to Parliament for a fourth consecutive term in July 2024.
The developments surrounding Tulip Siddiq’s dual nationality, political career, and the ongoing corruption investigations in Bangladesh continue to attract significant attention. As the legal proceedings unfold, further clarity is expected regarding her involvement in the alleged financial irregularities.
