Bangladesh’s Ousted PM Sheikh Hasina Sentenced to 21 Years in Land-Grab Cases After Earlier Death
Dhaka/New Delhi: Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, already facing a death sentence handed down last week, has now been given 21 years in prison in three separate corruption cases involving the illegal acquisition of state land. The rulings, delivered on Thursday, mark another major legal setback for the 78-year-old former leader, who has been living in exile.
A Dhaka court found Hasina guilty of unlawfully securing multiple plots in the Purbachal New Town project—a lucrative government housing development near the capital—for herself and her family, despite their ineligibility. The cases were filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).
Judge Abdullah Al Mamun, delivering the verdict, said Hasina’s conduct “demonstrates a persistent corruption mindset rooted in entitlement, unchecked power, and a greedy eye for public property,” accusing her of treating state land like personal assets and manipulating official procedures for family benefit.
Each of the three cases carries a seven-year prison term, and the court ruled they must be served consecutively, totaling 21 years.
Hasina’s son Sajeeb Wazed and daughter Saima Wazed were also sentenced—each receiving five years in prison in one of the cases. Further details of the ruling were not immediately released.
Comes One Week after Death Sentence
The new verdict follows last week’s dramatic judgment that sentenced Hasina to death by hanging after a court found her guilty of crimes against humanity, including ordering a violent crackdown on last year’s student uprising that eventually toppled her government.
Hasina fled Bangladesh by helicopter on August 5, 2024, after mass protests erupted against what demonstrators called her “autocratic rule.” She has since taken refuge in India, declining to return despite court orders. New Delhi is currently reviewing Dhaka’s extradition request.
Victims’ Families Demand Justice
For families of those killed during the 2024 protests, the verdict brings mixed emotions.
“I cannot be calm until she is brought back and hanged in this country,” said Shaina Begum, whose 20-year-old son Sajjat Hosen Sojal was shot dead and his body burned by police during the uprising. Many families fear that Hasina may evade justice if she is not extradited.
The United Nations estimates that up to 1,400 people were killed in the crackdown as Hasina attempted to maintain her grip on power.
Prosecutor Wants Harsher Sentence
Public prosecutor Khan Moinul Hasan said he will appeal, telling AFP that he was “not satisfied” with the ruling and that the government seeks the maximum possible penalty.
Hasina did not appoint a defense lawyer in the trial, and international human rights groups have criticised the process, raising concerns about political pressure and due process.
More Cases Pending
Additional land-grab cases against Hasina remain pending, & another verdict is expected on Dec 1.
Bangladesh is currently governed by an interim administration led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, who assumed leadership after Hasina’s ouster. New national elections are scheduled for February 2026, as the country navigates a turbulent political transition.
