British MP Tulip Siddiq has accused Bangladeshi authorities of orchestrating a smear campaign by making "false and vexatious claims" against her in the media without ever reaching out to her directly.

In a statement posted on X on Wednesday, Tulip said, "The Bangladesh authorities have been making false allegations about me to the media for months, but they have never contacted me directly."

The Labour MP for Hampstead and Kilburn resigned as a Treasury minister in January after being named in several corruption inquiries in Bangladesh.

Tulip, a niece of Bangladesh's deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina, said her lawyers wrote to Bangladeshi authorities more than two weeks ago, urging them to stop briefing the media with "baseless allegations." Her lawyers also invited the authorities to submit any legitimate questions.

"The deadline to respond has expired, and the Bangladesh authorities have not replied," her post reads. "Instead, they continue to smear me with false and vexatious claims in the media."

She said she has "provided detailed rebuttals to all the allegations made through the media, acting in good faith despite the lack of return courtesy. Their silence speaks volumes."

Tulip criticised the "so-called Anti-Corruption Commission in Dhaka" for knowing how to contact her but choosing not to.

"Here in the UK, we have due process, the rule of law, and a tradition of fair play. I would happily respond to any legitimate questions, but I will not be drawn into dirty politics, nor will I allow their witch hunt to undermine my work as a British citizen and proud member of the UK Parliament," she said.

Later on Wednesday, in her first public comments since leaving government, Tulip told Sky News that she is still waiting to hear from Bangladeshi authorities.

Asked whether she regretted her apparent links to the Awami League, Tulip responded, "Why don't you look at my legal letter and see if I have any questions to answer?"

Last month, Bangladesh's Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus, told Sky News that Tulip had "wealth left behind" in the country and "should be made responsible."

The allegations against Tulip focus on her connections to Hasina, who served as Bangladesh's prime minister for 20 years before fleeing in August 2023 amid deadly protests.

Tulip lived in several London properties linked to the Awami League, which her aunt still leads.

She referred herself to UK Prime Minister's standards adviser Sir Laurie Magnus, who found "no evidence of improprieties" but said she should have been more mindful of reputational risks.

Tulip later resigned, calling her role "a distraction" but maintaining that she had done nothing wrong.