UK’s Labour government has appointed Emma Reynolds as the Economic Secretary to the Treasury ministry, also known as the City Minister, after accepting Bangladesh-born Tulip Siddiq’s resignation from the post.
Labour Party lawmaker Emma previously served as the Parliamentary Secretary at Treasury, and as the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Pensions.
On Tuesday, Tulip resigned from her ministerial post amid widespread allegations against her over her ties to Bangladesh’s erstwhile despotic regime, and claims she benefitted from properties funded by allies of the regime leader and Tulip’s aunt Sheikh Hasina.
A UK government independent probe has found her engagements to "rise above the threshold of misconduct," but other investigations, including those in Bangladesh, are continuing against her.
A day earlier, the UK Anti-Corruption Coalition demanded Tulip must resign or be forced to quit, even if the UK government investigation into her misdoings finds her innocent.
Despite an innocent judgement, she would continue to have a “clear conflict of interests” while performing her duties as UK's key anti-corruption agent due to the corruption cases filed against her in Bangladesh, and some alarming British media reports.
UK government’s global reputation would be at risk if she is allowed to continue her ministerial role, the powerful anti-corruption alliance had said.
Bd-Pratidin English/ARK
