Sheikh Hasina Sentenced To 10 Years, UK MP Niece Faces Jail Term In Bangladesh Corruption Case

A court in Bangladesh on Monday sentenced former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment in two separate corruption cases related to the alleged misuse of power in allotting government land.

The verdict adds to the growing legal troubles facing the deposed leader, who has been living in exile since her removal from office last year.

The ruling was delivered by Dhaka's Special Judge's Court in cases linked to the Rajuk New Town Project in Purbachol, located on the outskirts of the capital.

Court Verdict on Purbachol Housing Project

According to the court, Sheikh Hasina abused her official position to influence the allocation of residential plots under the Rajuk housing scheme. Judge Robiul Alam sentenced the 79-year-old leader to a total of 10 years in jail for using her authority to favour others, including close family members.

The court also handed prison sentences to several of Hasina's relatives. Her niece Tulip Siddiq, a British lawmaker and former minister, was named in the case, though she was not present during the proceedings. Siddiq's siblings, Azaman Siddiq and Radwan Mujib Siddiq Bobby, were sentenced to seven years of rigorous imprisonment each.

The verdict was pronounced around 12.30 pm. All sentences were delivered following a trial held in absentia, as most of the accused were not present in Bangladesh.
Who Appeared Before the Court

Out of the 16 accused in the case, only one person appeared before the court in person. Khurshid Alam, a senior official of Rajuk-the government body responsible for land allotment-was present when the verdict was read out.

Other individuals sentenced to five years in prison included a former junior housing minister, a former ministry secretary, a former Rajuk chairman, and several officials associated with the housing authority. The judge stated that the trial was conducted according to legal procedure and was not affected by the absence or location of the accused.

Political Reactions and Party Response

Sheikh Hasina's now-disbanded Awami League strongly criticised the verdict. The party described the cases as "false" and "entirely predictable," alleging that the charges were politically motivated and pushed by the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus.
The Awami League has consistently maintained that the legal cases against Hasina and her family members are fabricated and aimed at targeting the former leadership after the change in power.

Tulip Siddiq Calls Process 'Farcical'

Reacting to the verdict, Tulip Siddiq rejected the allegations and questioned the legal process. Speaking to the BBC, she said she had never been officially contacted by Bangladeshi authorities.

She stated that no summons or charge sheet had been sent to her and claimed the entire process had been flawed from the start. Siddiq said she had hired lawyers both in the UK and Bangladesh and described the situation as confusing and distressing.

Background: Fall of Hasina Government

Sheikh Hasina's government was removed following a student-led protest movement known as the July Uprising, which turned violent and culminated in her ouster on August 5, 2024.

Since then, the interim administration has launched several legal actions against Hasina, her family members, and close associates.

Earlier, a special tribunal had sentenced Hasina to death in a separate case involving charges of crimes against humanity related to the handling of the protests. In another corruption case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission, a court had previously sentenced her to a combined 21 years in prison.

Her children, Sajeeb Wazed Joy and Saima Wazed Putul, were also handed five-year sentences in a related land allotment case.

With multiple convictions now against her, Sheikh Hasina's legal future remains uncertain. The latest verdict further deepens the political divide in Bangladesh and raises questions about the direction of justice and governance under the interim administration.

Appeals are expected, but for now, the former prime minister faces some of the toughest legal challenges of her long political career.