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In a dramatic escalation of legal proceedings that have strained diplomatic ties, a Dhaka court has officially ordered the issuance of an Interpol Red Notice for the arrest of British Member of Parliament Tulip Siddiq. The move, sanctioned on Thursday, February 26, 2026, marks the most aggressive step yet by the administration of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to bring the Hampstead and Highgate representative to justice on home soil.
The Latest Court Mandate
Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Mohammed Sabbir Faiz issued the directive following a formal petition by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). The watchdog argued that Siddiq, who has already been sentenced to a total of six years in prison across three previous cases, is actively evading the law. Assistant Director A.K.M. Mortuza Ali Sagar informed the court that international intervention is now essential as Siddiq remains outside the country’s jurisdiction and, according to the commission, may be attempting to interfere with evidence related to a high-profile real estate project in the upscale Gulshan-2 district.
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The Core Allegations
The specific case centers on a luxury flat scam where Siddiq is accused of using the "special influence" of her aunt, ousted former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, to illicitly secure a plot of land and a flat from a private developer. Prosecutors allege the land was unlawfully allocated through political coercion during Hasina’s 15-year tenure. This latest warrant follows a previous arrest order issued on February 18, which Siddiq did not acknowledge.
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A Reversal of Fate: The Tarique Rahman Factor
The political irony of the situation is profound. In 2015, it was Tarique Rahman—then an exiled opposition leader—who faced an Interpol Red Notice triggered by the Hasina government. Today, Rahman is the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, and his government is utilizing the same international policing mechanisms against Hasina’s family. While Siddiq maintains that the charges are a "politically motivated smear campaign," the new administration in Dhaka is signaling its intent to pursue every legal avenue for her repatriation.
The Extradition Deadlock
Despite the court's order, the actual arrest of the former British Treasury Minister remains highly unlikely. The United Kingdom does not have an extradition treaty with Bangladesh, and the British government has consistently stated it does not recognize the judgments passed against Siddiq in absentia. The Labour Party has stood by her, claiming she was denied a fair trial and never received formal details of the charges. Siddiq, who resigned from her ministerial role in January 2025 to avoid being a "distraction," continues to assert that she is a British citizen and has no legal obligation to answer to the Bangladeshi judiciary.
What Happens Next?
The request will now move to Interpol’s General Secretariat in Lyon, France. However, Interpol often rejects notices deemed to be of a "political, military, religious, or racial character." If the Red Notice is published, it would effectively restrict Siddiq’s international travel, as member nations would be alerted to her "wanted" status. For now, the case remains a high-stakes tug-of-war between Dhaka’s pursuit of accountability for the "Hasina era" and London’s protection of its sitting lawmakers.
