Tulip makes maiden speech in the House of Commons

Ansar Ahmed Ullah

A proud Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina along with the rest of her family watched from the VVIP gallery of the House of Commons as her niece, Tulip Siddiq, made her maiden speech to the UK Parliament.

Tulip Siddiq, daughter of Sheikh Rehana, gave a nine-minute speech dwelling on her community and her family. Tulip Siddiq is among the two new lawmakers of Bengali origin who have been elected with a Labour Party ticket in the last general elections. The other MP is Rupa Haq.

“People from my constituency are 46 percent immigrants who found Britain a safe haven after fleeing their countries,” she said, during a debate on European Union referendum Bill. Do not close the door … do not stop the chance to immigrate to Great Britain’ she told the house amid applause.

Referring to her own family, the family of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Tulip Siddiq in an emotion choked voice said “My auntie and my mother found safe haven here after 19 members of our family were assassinated. My auntie, the prime minister of Bangladesh and my mother is here today.”
“I am glad you elected a member of a family of political asylum seekers,” she added.

Amid cheers from both side of the treasury, she invited all the lawmakers to come and enjoy the famous walk in her constituency Hampstead and Kilburn.

Also present at the UK Parliament were Sheikh Rehana, Sajeeb Wajed Joy, Saima Wajed Putul, Redwan Siddiq, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam, Media Advisor Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury and other members of the premier’s entourage as well as the officials of the Bangladesh High Commission.