Dr Fahmida Khatun, Executive Director of the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), on Saturday questioned how Tulip Siddiq, a British MP, represented Bangladesh in Russia despite not being a Bangladeshi citizen.
Speaking as the chief guest at a seminar titled "What to Do to Increase Expatriate Income", Dr Fahmida said: "Tulip is a member of a political party in another country. She is not a citizen of Bangladesh, not even a common citizen. How did she represent Bangladesh in Russia with the prime minister's (former prime minister Sheikh Hasina) aunt?"
Dr Fahmida Khatun added that the resignation of Tulip Siddiq from the post of UK treasury and anti-corruption minister was inevitable.
"Various allegations against Tulip, including financial scandals, were becoming more and more intense. She has delayed her resignation. If the allegations are proven, she will have to step down from her post as an MP. She may even lose her membership of the Labour Party,” Dr Fahmida said.
Calling for proper respect for expatriates, she said the high commissions abroad and banks must be more sincere in serving expatriates. “In the expatriate lounges at the airport should serve food which the expatriates are used to eating. They (expatriates) are valuable assets for the country so they need to be properly nurtured.”
