Bangladesh Corruption Verdict: Sheikh Hasina Gets 21 Years

In a major legal development, an ousted Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina, has been sentenced to 21 years in prison by a court. The convictions are linked to three corruption cases involving alleged irregularities in allocating plots within the Rajuk New Town Project in Purbachol. Each of the three sentences is for seven years, totaling two decades and one year of imprisonment. The court announced its verdict in the absence of the accused, who has not yet been arrested. The court’s findings stated that the plot was granted to Sheikh Hasina without a proper application and in a manner that defied legal boundaries. The Anti-Corruption Commission had previously filed six cases against Hasina and her family members concerning the alleged illegal distribution of government land in Purbachal. The remaining three cases are scheduled for judgment on December 1. Additionally, Sheikh Hasina’s son, Sajeeb Wazed Joy, has been given a five-year sentence and a financial penalty, and her daughter, Saima Wazed Putul, has also received a five-year prison sentence.