Bangladesh court sentences former PM Hasina to 21 years jail

A Bangladesh court on Thursday sentenced ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina to 21 years of imprisonment in three corruption cases, according to sources. According to information, the three cases were lodged over alleged irregularities in allocating plots in the Rajuk New Town Project in Purbachol. The judge pronounced the judgment in her absence as she is yet to be arrested and was tried in absentia. Hasina was sentenced to seven years in each case, totalling 21 years in prison. “The plot was allotted to Sheikh Hasina without any application and in a manner that exceeded the legally authorised jurisdiction,” the court observed in its judgment.
In a major development, a Dhaka court presided over by Dhaka Special Judge 5, Mohammad Abdullah Al Mamun announced the verdict, awarding Hasina seven years each in the three plot fraud cases. These cases form part of six separate complaints filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) in January, accusing Hasina and her family of illegally allocating government plots in Dhaka’s Purbachal area. The verdict in the remaining three cases is scheduled for December 1.The court also sentenced her son, Sajeeb Wazed Joy, to five years in prison along with a fine of Tk 100,000, while her daughter, Saima Wazed Putul, received a five-year prison sentence as well.
Earlier, the International Crimes Tribunal of Bangladesh had sentenced Sheikh Hasina to death, finding her guilty of crimes against humanity related to the July 2024 anti-government protests.Hasina and her family did not have legal representation in the corruption cases because they were absconding. They have denied the corruption allegations in various speeches and statements.
Meanwhile, India has confirmed that it is examining a request from Bangladesh’s interim government seeking Hasina’s extradition. The request follows the ICT’s death sentence against her in the case linked to the July–August 2024 unrest.Addressing the weekly media briefing, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said New Delhi had received Dhaka’s communication and was reviewing it.“Yes, we have received the request, and this request is being examined. As part of ongoing judicial and internal legal processes, we remain committed to the best interest of the people of Bangladesh, including peace, democracy, inclusion and stability in that country, and will continue to engage constructively in this regard with all state stakeholders,” Jaiswal said.In July 2024, a student-led uprising erupted against Sheikh Hasina, forcing her to leave Bangladesh on August 5 and seek refuge in India. Soon after her departure, an interim government was appointed under Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus.