Bangladesh Court Sentences Former PM Sheikh Hasina to 21 Years for Corruption in Land Allocation Cases

Hasina maintains the charges against her are "biased and politically motivated". (File)

A Bangladesh court on Thursday sentenced deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina to 21 years in jail in three corruption cases related to irregularities in allocations of land in a government housing project.

Judge Mohammad Abdullah Al Mamun of Dhaka Special Judge Court-5 handed down a seven-year sentence for each of the three corruption cases in the Rajuk New Town Project in Purbachal, which will be served consecutively, totaling 21 years of imprisonment.

The 78-year-old former premier was also fined Taka one lakh in each case, with an additional 18-month prison term if she fails to pay the amount.

Hasina's son Sajib Wajed Joy and daughter Saima Wazed Putul each received five-year imprisonment sentences for their involvement in the housing project cases. They were also fined Taka one lakh each, with an additional month of imprisonment for non-payment.

"The plot was allotted to Sheikh Hasina without any application and in a manner that exceeded the legally authorised jurisdiction," Judge Mamun stated during the verdict announcement.

This judgment comes just 10 days after Hasina was sentenced to death in absentia by a special tribunal for "crimes against humanity" related to her government's crackdown on student-led protests last year.

Since August 5 of last year, Hasina has been living in India after fleeing Bangladesh amid massive protests that toppled her Awami League government. A court has previously declared her a fugitive.

Security was heightened in and around the court complex in old Dhaka ahead of Thursday's verdict.

The corruption cases also implicated 20 others, including former junior minister for housing Sharif Ahmed and various officials from the housing ministry and Rajdhani Unyan Kartripakkah. All except one junior ministry officer received varying prison terms. Only one accused appeared in person during the trial and received a three-year sentence.

The Anti-Corruption Commission filed six cases between January 12 and 14, submitting charge-sheets for all on March 10. The court framed charges in the three cases on July 31 and issued arrest warrants against the accused. In total, 29 witnesses provided testimony in these cases.

Bangladesh's Foreign Affairs Adviser M Touhid Hossain stated that the country expects a response from New Delhi regarding its request for Hasina's extradition, noting that "the situation is different now" with completed judicial proceedings and the former premier's conviction.

India has acknowledged it is examining the interim government's extradition request and affirmed its commitment to ensuring the best interests of Bangladesh's people.

Since the collapse of the Hasina regime, most Awami League leaders have either been arrested or have fled Bangladesh.