Hasina Gets 21-Year Jail Term in Bangladesh Land Corruption Cases

• Former Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina sentenced to 21 years in three corruption cases.
• Court also convicts her son Sajib Wazed Joy and daughter Saima Wazed Putul.
• Verdict follows last week’s death sentence in a separate case.
• Hasina calls charges politically motivated; she has been in India since August last year.

GG News Bureau
Dhaka, 27th Nov: A Dhaka court on Thursday sentenced deposed Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina to a total of 21 years in prison after finding her guilty in three corruption cases linked to irregularities in land allocations under the Rajuk New Town Project in Purbachal.

Judge Mohammad Abdullah Al Mamun of Dhaka Special Judge Court-5 awarded the 78-year-old former premier seven years in each of the three cases, ruling that the sentences would run consecutively. The court also imposed a fine of Taka one lakh in each case, with an additional 18 months’ imprisonment for non-payment.

Hasina’s son, Sajib Wajed Joy, and daughter, Saima Wazed Putul, were each given five years’ imprisonment and fined Taka one lakh. “The plot was allotted to Sheikh Hasina without any application and beyond the legally authorised jurisdiction,” Judge Mamun said while pronouncing the verdict.

The ruling comes 10 days after the former prime minister was sentenced to death in absentia by a special tribunal for “crimes against humanity” during last year’s student-led protests. Hasina has rejected all charges as “biased and politically motivated”.

Hasina has been living in India since August 5 last year after fleeing Bangladesh amid massive demonstrations that toppled her Awami League government. She had earlier been declared a fugitive by the court.

Security was heightened around the court premises in Dhaka’s old city ahead of Thursday’s judgment.

In addition to Hasina and her children, 20 others — including a former junior housing minister, officials from the housing ministry, and Rajdhani Unyan Kartripakkah — were convicted. Except for one junior officer who was acquitted, all were handed varying prison terms. Only one accused appeared in person and received a three-year sentence.

The Anti-Corruption Commission had filed six cases in January and submitted charge-sheets in March. Charges were formally framed on July 31, and arrest warrants were issued against the accused. Twenty-nine witnesses testified during the proceedings.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh’s interim government has renewed its request to India seeking Hasina’s extradition. Foreign Affairs Adviser M Touhid Hossain said New Delhi’s response is awaited “as the situation is different now” following her conviction. India has said it is examining the request and remains committed to the interests of the Bangladeshi people.

Most senior Awami League leaders have either been arrested or fled since the collapse of the Hasina regime.