In a major development, former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been sentenced to 21 years in prison for corruption. The 78-year-old leader, currently living in India, has ignored court orders to return to Bangladesh.
This ruling follows last week’s death sentence in absentia for crimes against humanity related to a violent crackdown on student protests that led to her ousting last year.
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed three separate cases against Hasina, accusing her of illegally acquiring lucrative land plots in Dhaka. She received seven years in each case, though it remains unclear whether the sentences will run concurrently.
Judge Abdullah Al Mamun described Hasina’s actions as a “persistent corruption mindset” fueled by unchecked power, entitlement, and greed, highlighting her manipulation of state resources for personal and family gain.
Hasina’s children were also penalized: her US-based son Sajeeb Wazed and daughter Saima Wazed each received five years in prison. Several other accused across the three cases were given varying jail terms.
Hasina fled Bangladesh by helicopter on August 5, 2024, amid mass protests against her autocratic governance. Public prosecutor Khan Moinul Hasan has announced plans to appeal the corruption verdicts, emphasizing dissatisfaction with the current sentences.
Bangladesh has faced political instability since Hasina’s departure, with violence erupting ahead of elections scheduled for February 2026. The UN reports that over 1,400 people were killed during the crackdown on student-led protests.
Hasina has rejected the verdicts, calling them politically motivated and biased. She is also under trial in additional corruption cases involving her sister Sheikh Rehana and children, including UK MP Tulip Siddiq.
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