Questions Over Keir Starmer’s Links to BD’s Awami League

Siddiq, who has referred herself to Starmer’s standards adviser following reports that she received a £700,000 London flat from a supporter of the Awami League, is now at the center of scrutiny. The Times reported that Siddiq's aunt, Sheikh Hasina, was ousted as Bangladesh’s prime minister last year following a student-led uprising against her regime, which has been accused of corruption and human rights abuses.

Hasina had long praised the "enduring friendship" between the Awami League and Labour, a connection that has included significant support for Starmer from members of the Bangladeshi diaspora in the UK. Despite repeated warnings from human rights groups about extrajudicial killings and corruption in Bangladesh, Starmer has continued to strengthen his relationship with Hasina and her party.

Starmer’s ties to the Awami League have sparked concerns about the potential political ramifications, as these connections risk drawing Labour into investigations into alleged corruption within Hasina’s regime. In recent months, Starmer has met with key figures of the Awami League, including Anwaruzzaman Chowdhury, general secretary of the party’s UK branch, and Abdul Karim Nazim, an executive member of the party in the UK.

Nazim is also the owner of the £2.1 million home where Siddiq resides. Siddiq, who represents a neighboring constituency to Starmer’s, has been involved in strengthening ties between Labour and the Awami League. She has publicly credited the Awami League with helping her achieve political success in the UK.

The Labour-Awami League connection dates back to the Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971, and Starmer himself has a long history of engagement with the party. During his early political career, Starmer visited Bangladesh, where he met with political leaders and advocated for stronger ties between the UK and Bangladesh.

Despite these efforts to maintain positive relations, the recent revelations surrounding Siddiq’s financial dealings have raised concerns. Siddiq's family, which has close links to the Awami League, is under investigation in Bangladesh for potential involvement in the alleged embezzlement of billions of pounds from a nuclear power plant project.

In response to the allegations, Siddiq has denied any wrongdoing, and a Labour source has defended Starmer’s engagement with foreign politicians, calling such meetings part of legitimate diplomatic relations. However, Transparency International Bangladesh has called for Siddiq’s resignation, citing potential conflicts of interest and concerns over corruption within her family.

A spokesperson for Siddiq emphasized that any suggestion her property holdings were linked to her connections with the Awami League was "categorically wrong," and that she had referred herself to the prime minister’s adviser for an independent review of the matter.

The unfolding situation continues to raise questions about the ethical boundaries of political relationships, as both Starmer and Siddiq face increasing scrutiny over their ties to the controversial Awami League.