Bangladesh court sentences exiled former PM Sheikh Hasina to 10 years in jail in two corruption cases over alleged irregularities in government land allocation. Family members, including nieces and nephew, also receive prison terms and fines.
Dhaka Special Judge's Court-4 Judge Rabiul Alam handed down the verdicts
Dhaka: A Bangladesh local court on Monday sentenced former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to 10 years in prison in two separate corruption cases linked to alleged irregularities in land allocations under the Rajuk New Town Project in Purbachol. The verdict was delivered by Dhaka Special Judge’s Court-4 Judge Rabiul Alam, according to state-run BSS news agency.
Hasina, 78, has been living in India since fleeing Bangladesh on August 5 last year amid widespread protests. The court had earlier declared her a fugitive.
Alongside Sheikh Hasina, several family members were convicted in the cases:
Radwan Mujib Siddiq (nephew) – 7 years’ imprisonment
Azmina Siddiq (niece) – 7 years’ imprisonment
Tulip Rizwana Siddiq (niece) – 4 years’ imprisonment (2 years in each case)
Rajuk member Mohammad Khurshid Alam, the only accused who surrendered before the court, was sentenced to two years in total one year in each case.
The court also imposed a fine of Tk 1 lakh on each convicted person, with an additional six months in prison in case of non-payment.
The two cases were filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), alleging misuse of power in allocating government land. The charges focus on irregularities in the distribution of two 10-katha plots under the Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk) housing project.
Prosecutors said the accused manipulated the allocation process and violated existing regulations, prompting the ACC to initiate legal proceedings against Hasina and her relatives.
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The judgment was pronounced around 12:30 pm local time. Each of the cases resulted in separate prison terms, which were then combined for sentencing purposes: Hasina received five years in each case, totaling 10 years.
The sentences mark a significant development in Bangladesh’s legal and political landscape, particularly given Hasina’s status as a former prime minister and current political exile.
The convictions are expected to have wider implications for ongoing political dynamics in Bangladesh, especially concerning accountability and anti-corruption measures in public office.
