A Dhaka court on Monday handed down significant prison sentences to ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina and several members of her family in connection with corruption and irregularities surrounding the allocation of high-value residential plots.
Judge Robiul Alam of the Dhaka Special Judge Court-4 delivered the verdicts in two separate cases involving the RAJUK Purbachal New Town Project, sentencing Sheikh Hasina to a total of 10 years in prison.
The court also sentenced her niece Tulip Siddiq—a prominent British-Bangladeshi politician—to four years of imprisonment.
The legal proceedings, which began shortly after this noon, also resulted in seven-year prison terms for Tulip’s siblings -- Radwan Mujib Siddiq and Azmina Siddiq for their involvement in the fraudulent acquisition of 10-katha plots.
These cases were part of a broader crackdown on 36 individuals, including former high-ranking government officials and RAJUK executives.
Among the other convicts are former State Minister for Housing and Public Works Sharif Ahmed, former RAJUK Chairman Md Anisur Rahman Miah and several former additional secretaries and board members who were found complicit in bypassing standard allocation procedures to benefit the former prime minister’s relatives.
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) initiated these cases in early 2025, alleging that the accused abused their power to misappropriate state land, causing significant financial loss to the national exchequer.
Throughout the trial, the court heard testimonies from nearly 60 prosecution witnesses across both cases, including the lead investigator, ACC Assistant Director Afnan Jannat Keya.
The defense had consistently argued that the charges were politically motivated, but the court ruled that the evidence established a clear pattern of "mismanagement and institutionalized favoritism."
As all the convicted family members are currently staying abroad, the court has issued fresh arrest warrants and directed the relevant authorities to initiate extradition proceedings through international channels.
