After death sentence, Hasina now gets 21-year jail term for land scam

Deposed Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was on Thursday sentenced to 21 years in prison after a Dhaka court found her guilty in three corruption cases linked to irregularities in land allotments under the Purbachal New Town housing project.

The 78-year-old former PM, who has lived in Delhi since she fled from Dhaka last August, received seven years’ imprisonment in each case, to be served consecutively. She was also fined Taka one lakh in every case, with an additional 18 months’ jail in case of default.

Hasina’s son Sajib Wajed Joy and daughter Saima Wazed Putul were also convicted and handed five-year prison terms each, along with fines of Taka one lakh and a month’s imprisonment for non-payment.

According to the verdict, the land plot at the centre of the case was allotted to Hasina without any application and in a manner that exceeded authorised procedures.

The ruling comes just 10 days after another special tribunal sentenced Hasina to death in absentia for “crimes against humanity” related to last year’s crackdown on student-led protests. She has maintained that the charges against her are biased and politically motivated.

Hasina has been living in India since August 5 last year, when she fled Bangladesh amid mass protests that forced her Awami League government from power. She had earlier been declared a fugitive by a Dhaka court. Security was tightened around the court complex ahead of Thursday’s verdict.

Besides the Hasina family, 20 others, including a former junior housing minister and officials of the housing ministry and Rajuk, were also convicted, with sentences varying across the accused. One junior officer was acquitted. Only one of the accused faced the trial in person and received a three-year term.

Bangladesh’s Anti-Corruption Commission filed six cases in January and submitted chargesheets in March. The interim government has sought Hasina’s extradition from India, while New Delhi has said the request is under examination.