UK-based investigators are looking at how they can assist with probes into alleged grand corruption in Bangladesh, Sky News understands.
The development comes after the interim leader of Bangladesh said that Labour MP Tulip Siddiq had “wealth left behind” in the country “and should be made responsible”.
Ms Siddiq resigned as anti-corruption minister in January after being named in corruption probes opened by the authorities in Bangladesh.
A spokesperson for the London MP said she “totally denies the claims” and had “not been contacted on these matters”.
Ousted Bangladesh leader Sheikh Hasina has been accused of corruption while in office. File pic: AP
Sky News understands the International Anti-Corruption Co-ordination Centre (IACCC) is now “exploring opportunities” to assist government and law-enforcement agencies in Bangladesh with their efforts to investigate allegations of grand corruption.
Electrocuted on their genitals and mouths sewn up: Inside Bangladesh’s ‘death squad’ jails
The IACCC is currently hosted by the National Crime Agency (NCA) and principally funded by the UK government.
It consists of experts and analysts who work with overseas partners on inquiries into grand corruption.
Staff from the NCA visited Bangladesh in October and November as part of initial work to support the interim government in the country.
This explorative work does not mean that UK agencies are involved with probes directly into Ms Siddiq and sources said the development should not be taken as confirmation the NCA or IACCC are supporting any particular inquiry.
Tulip Siddiq has denied claims made against her
However, it does raise the prospect of UK authorities investigating whether money allegedly taken out of Bangladesh under the previous regime was brought into this country.
The allegations against Ms Siddiq are focused on links to her aunt Sheikh Hasina – who served as the prime minister of Bangladesh for 20 years.
Ms Hasina was forced to flee the country in August following weeks of deadly protests.
She has since been accused of crime and corruption while in office by the new administration.
Ms Siddiq was found to have lived in several London properties that had links back to the Awami League political party that her aunt still leads.
She referred herself to the prime minister’s standards adviser Sir Laurie Magnus who said he had “not identified evidence of improprieties” but added it was “regrettable” Ms Siddiq had not been more alert to the “potential reputational risks” of the ties to her aunt.
Ms Siddiq said continuing in her role would be “a distraction” for the government but insisted she had done nothing wrong.
Labour sources said Ms Siddiq does not have an overseas bank account, does not own any property abroad and had not been contacted by authorities in either the UK or Bangladesh.
They also suggested that many of the allegations levelled at the Labour MP were spurious and that she had been caught up in Bangladeshi political arguments.