Bangladesh’s ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was sentenced to a total of 21 years in three separate cases related to the illegal allotment of government land.
According to the international news agency, the Bangladeshi court ruled that Sheikh Hasina obtained government plots for herself and her family in the suburbs of Dhaka.
The land grab cases were filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission alleging illegal allotment of valuable land in the Porbachal New Town project.
Court judge Abdullah Al-Mamoon said in the verdict that Sheikh Hasina misused state powers and altered government processes for the benefit of herself and her close relatives by considering government land as personal property.
In all three cases, Sheikh Hasina Wajid was sentenced to seven years in prison, which must be served one after the other, not at the same time. Thus the total sentence will be 21 years.
According to the court decision, Sheikh Hasina’s son Sujibu Wajid and daughter Saima Wajid were also sentenced to five years in prison in a case.
Public prosecutors have expressed dissatisfaction with the decision and said they will appeal for a higher sentence.
It should be remembered that only last week, the former prime minister was sentenced to death in the case of crimes against humanity.
Sheikh Hasina Wajid was accused of ordering a crackdown on the student-led movement last year.
Deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wajid had left the country for India on August 5, 2024 and has not returned to her homeland despite court orders.
It is believed that the Indian government is also reviewing the extradition request made by Bangladesh.
Sheikh Hasina and her party Awami League have termed these actions as political revenge, while some international human rights organizations have also questioned the transparency of the judicial process.
It should be noted that other cases related to government land grabbing are also under hearing, one of which is expected to be decided on December 1.
