Dhaka, Nov. 25 -- A group of leading UK lawyers has raised "serious" concerns over the trial of British MP Tulip Siddiq in Bangladesh, describing the proceedings as "contrived and unfair" and urging the authorities to ensure a fair trial.

The trial of Tulip, who resigned from the UK government in January, is set to deliver a verdict on Dec 1 and sentence in absentia, with prosecutors reportedly seeking the maximum life term.

The Guardian reported that prominent British lawyers -- including Robert Buckland KC, former justice secretary under Boris Johnson, former Tory attorney general Dominic Grieve, Cherie Blair KC, Philippe Sands KC, and Geoffrey Robertson KC -- wrote to Bangladesh High Commissioner in London Abida Islam, noting that Tu...