This week Guido revealed Starmer’s multiple meetings with Tulip Siddiq’s aunt the ousted dictator Sheikh Hasina. He even went on a trip to Bangladesh with Siddiq when he was a backbencher…
Guido can now reveal that just last month the Prime Minister met with the general secretary of the Awami League in the UK – former Sylhet City Corporation Mayor Anwaruzzaman Chowdhury. The two were filmed speaking cordially at an event on 5 December. Chowdhury said on his social media they spoke “about the current situation of Bangladesh.” Guido would soon disclose the Bangladesh Anti-Corruption Commission’s investigation into Tulip Siddiq and other members of Hasina’s family in the UK, all of which are under scrutiny for possession of properties gifted by Awami League officials…
Chowdhury, who fled Bangladesh after the fall of Hasina’s regime, has an extensive history of Bangladeshi press coverage. He has been named in reports about numerous human rights allegations, including in relation to the death of a student. The Bangladeshi press has named him in a murder case relating to the death of seven people and over explosive charges. Reports there also say he has been named in a case relating to vandalism and looting. All relate to protests in the summer against Hasina’s regime. There is no response to these allegations in the Bangladeshi reports…
There is no doubt that Chowdhury is a close ally of Sheikh Hasina and has been photographed with her numerous times. After meeting Starmer Chowdhury promoted a UK pro-Hasina rally in December against the interim government of Bangladesh. He is also close to City minister Tulip Siddiq, pictures of whom feature on his social media. He has been photographed along with other Awami League officials campaigning for Siddiq as recently as 2019. At an Awami League rally held shortly after the 2015 election, at which Sheikh Hasina was present, Siddiq said in Bengali to cheering party members: “Had it not been for your help, I would never have been standing as a British MP.” In her 2017 election victory speech, Tulip specifically thanked Chowdhury, referring to him as “Anwar Mama.” The term “mama” means uncle and is used in Bangladesh to refer to family friends on the mother’s side…
Siddiq is under investigation by the independent adviser on ministerial standards Laurie Magnus – which Downing Street briefs is a “fact-finding exercise to determine if an investigation is needed.” The close nature of Starmer’s relationship with the Awami League puts Starmer’s final judgement on the investigation into question. The adviser gives advice – any sanction or action on Siddiq is his decision alone. Siddiq has issued multiple statements denying any wrongdoing. Starmer’s personal links to Bangladesh are unravelling fast…
Speaking to Sky News off the back of Rachel Reeves’ Air Passenger Duty hike, Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary said:
“Labour is dependent on those Red Wall seats, and yet every move she makes poisons economic growth and damages the UK’s recovery… it’s the Chancellor who stumbles from policy misstep to policy misstep… I think her policy decisions are incredibly stupid.”
