Forum Topic

Anti Corruption Chief under investigation

Tulip Siddiq Labours anti corruption chief is under investigation for taking bribes from Russia in her native Bangladesh.Hows the clean up going Keir ??

Andy Pike ● 7d17 Comments

I'm not seeing the connection with Tate unless of course a Labour minister has been staying at Tate's residence while he is in jail???Can't imagine a minister doing that!

Ed Robinson ● 3d

'Please keep us all posted on the Bangladeshi political scene'.I am sure you are top of Human Rights Watch's accusation that 'Israel is committing "acts of genocide in Gaza" by deliberately depriving Palestinian civilians there of adequate access to water'. - BBC News'.Genocide ?And did you read in the MailOnline a report of a visit to Germany by one of their columnists ? -https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14214497/German-Christmas-market-Syrian-refugees.html'For in mid-afternoon on Sunday December 8, this snug ambiance – what the Germans like to call 'Gemütlichkeit' - was suddenly disrupted by chants of 'Allahu Akbar'.Out of nowhere came a large, boisterous crowd – mostly Arabic, almost entirely young men – who barged past the fairground rides and on down the narrow pathways between the market traders with their jewellery displays, gingerbread houses and puppet shows.On and on they came for more than an hour, chanting unfamiliar slogans and waving flags and banners.It was in Essen's Christmas market, much like this one in Cologne visited by Robert, where the friendly ambience was suddenly disrupted by Syrian migrants chanting 'Allahu Akbar'Though the event turned out to be entirely peaceful, it was woefully ill-judged.Germans have not forgotten that it was at a Christmas market in Berlin where a failed asylum-seeker from Tunisia drove a stolen truck into the crowds in 2016. He left 13 dead and 56 injured. Tonight's atrocity seems similar'. And what about the situation reported in the Guardian ?'In the DRC, rape is rife. How can women recover in a war zone?Near the eastern city of Goma, charities such as MSF are reporting rising numbers of refugees experiencing rape and torture'.And yet it is still Israel that gets all the condemnation.Why is that ?

John Hawkes ● 5d

'How hopelessly unoriginal'!True though.Please keep us all posted on the Bangladeshi political scene.I am sure you read all their local news outlets and will be able to prove the country is the nearest possible to Shangri La.As distinct from Israel of course.Oh and how goes it in the new Arab democracy that is Syria ?Living up to your expectations ?

John Hawkes ● 7d

And that's the best you can do? How hopelessly unoriginal!

Richard Carter ● 7d

I would be honoured to receive such a commendation !But of course you know full well why I made reference to the IDF because you and others have banged on for months about the barbarity of Israel and the IDF and their 'crimes against humanity'.Yet we read Sadiq's aunt Hasina - 'is wanted by Bangladesh's International Criminal Tribunal (ICT) for her alleged involvements in "crimes against humanity" that took place during the demonstrations, in which hundreds were killed'.So perhaps we can now expect many posts from you condemning these activities and those that perpetrate them.Or not.So I propose a further law, as follows:"As an online discussion of barbarity that cannot be blamed on Israel starts, the probability of it being ignored however relevant immediately approaches 1."And we could call it Carter's Law.

John Hawkes ● 7d

Perhaps a little harsh on Bangladesh, the circumstances seem to occur closer to home? For example, Sam Bankman-Fried's FTX cryptocurrency exchange operations in the US seemed to have greed for money driving it (although perhaps it started as greed to understand the technology as with many tech entrepreneurs?), and Mr Andrew Tate seems to have been pulled up for not paying his UK taxes (apart from anything else he may have been up to in Romania to generate an income).

Michael Ixer ● 7d

'"I suspect greed is a global problem?"For the globe perhaps, Mr Ixer. Fortunately not here. For us greed is good'.Perhaps in certain circumstances it is.Greed probably was a major factor driving our Industrial Revolution and thence an overall increase in the wealth of the country (a key objective of Kier Starmer today).And who would object to a greed for knowledge ?There is of course a difference between greed and corruption though.Unfortunately the first can in certain circumstances or countries such as Bangladesh for example lead to the second.That is why the Treasury's Economic Secretary Tulip Sadiq is responsible for tackling corruption in UK financial markets.Which is also why it is surprising to see her referenced in political and financial corruption scandals in a country where her wider family are or where so powerful.  Oh, and wasn't it a good film ?!

John Hawkes ● 7d

"Yet the IDF not cited ?!" - in a discussion of possible corruption involving a British Member of Parluament.It looks, then, as if we need what you might call an adjunct to Godwin's Law - which,  if I can remind you , says "As an online discussion grows longer, the probability of a comparison involving Nazis or Hitler approaches 1."So I propose a further law, as follows: "As an online discussion grows longer, the probability of a comparison involving Israel or Palestine, however itrelevant, approaches 1."And we could call it Hawkes' Law.

Richard Carter ● 7d

"I suspect greed is a global problem?"For the globe perhaps, Mr Ixer. Fortunately not here. For us greed is good."The point is, ladies and gentlemen, that greed, for lack of a better word, is good. Greed is right, greed works. Greed clarifies, cuts through and captures the essence of the evolutionary spirit. Greed in all of its forms. Greed for life, money, love, knowledge, has marked the upward surge of mankind." "Wall Street" (1987)

David Ainsworth ● 7d

Actually,  Mr Hawkes, my friend in the African Telecoms Org was of European descent, although born in an African state. And, yes, it's a fact such payments happen. Still, I can also think of a software application project in the early 1980s for a North Sea oil company that had problems because one of the oil company's employees ignored the advice of the software provider concerning communications equipment because, shall we say, some "commission" was paid by the company that did provide the equipment. I heard of other procurement stories in the UK over the years ... i suspect greed is a global problem?

Michael Ixer ● 7d

'Reminds me of the commercial part of my Telecoms post grad course with the warnings about how in certain parts of the world "commissions" were expected to facilitate deals - and stories from one of my fellow students, who was a senior director of an African Telecoms service, about the lavishing and sometimes "exotic" entertainment of some east Asian equipment providers during visits of potential suppliers'.Careful Mr Ixer.Some on this Forum might consider these comments 'racist'.Not me though.Just factual comment.

John Hawkes ● 7d

'And being under investigation for corruption in Bangladesh is an actual guilty verdict'?Possibly not.Depends on how much you slip the judge.But if we are to believe the BBC....'Tulip Siddiq, who as the Treasury's Economic Secretary is responsible for tackling corruption in UK financial markets, is alleged to have brokered a deal with Russia in 2013 that overinflated the price of a new nuclear power plant in Bangladesh.The allegation is part of a wider investigation by Bangladesh's Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) into Siddiq's aunt, Sheikh Hasina, who was deposed as prime minister of the country in August.A source close to Siddiq said these were "trumped up charges".The ACC is also investigating several of Hasina's family members, including Siddiq's mother Sheikh Rehana Siddiq, and senior officials from her government.Hasina, who was in charge of Bangladesh for more than 20 years, was seen as an autocrat whose government ruthlessly clamped down on dissent.Since fleeing the country Hasina has been accused of multiple crimes by the new Bangladeshi government.Hasina is wanted by Bangladesh's International Criminal Tribunal (ICT) for her alleged involvements in "crimes against humanity" that took place during the demonstrations, in which hundreds were killed'."Crimes against humanity" !Yet the IDF not cited ?!

John Hawkes ● 7d

Well, this is the story, so not a local UK issue:https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cp3zqen209goReminds me of the commercial part of my Telecoms post grad course with the warnings about how in certain parts of the world "commissions" were expected to facilitate deals - and stories from one of my fellow students, who was a senior director of an African Telecoms service, about the lavishing and sometimes "exotic" entertainment of some east Asian equipment providers during visits of potential suppliers.Fortunately, it's all a lot more business like in the UK where one has to make declarations of entertainment and gifts, and consider the bottom line.

Michael Ixer ● 7d

Whether born on St Helier or anywhere else she is under investigation for bribery.

Andy Pike ● 7d

What!??? You really couldn't make it up!! I look forward to hearing what #NeverHereKeir has to say about this, that's if he's ever in situ long enough ...🙄

Sue Hammond ● 7d

Easier for you if I type it right:-St Helier Hospital

David Ainsworth ● 7d

"Tulip Siddiq Labours anti corruption chief is under investigation for taking bribes from Russia in her native Bangladesh.""her native Bangladesh."Ms Siddiq was born in St Heler Hospital. Guess where that is, Mr Pike?If having your photo taken with Putin is evidence of something, Tony Blair should be of interest to you. Quite a growth in export licences for sensitive material to Russia, apparently, under Blair.And being under investigation for corruption in Bangladesh is an actual guilty verdict?

David Ainsworth ● 7d