Bangladesh Court Sentences Ousted PM Sheikh Hasina To 21 Years In Jail In Three Corruption Cases

Bangladesh: A Bangladesh court on Thursday sentenced ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to 21 years of jail in three corruption cases filed by the country's Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) due to the irregularities in the allocation of plots under the Purbachal New City Project.

Meanwhile, it is to be noted here that the latest verdict comes just days after Bangladesh's ICT announced a death sentence to Hasina on November 17. Notably, she was pronounced a death sentence on the charges of crimes against humanity related to the demonstrations in July, 2024. 

Along with her, the court also convicted two of Hasina's top aides, sentencing former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal to death and former Inspector General of Police Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, who turned state witness, to five years' imprisonment.

Meanwhile, on November 27, Judge Mohammad Abdullah Al Mamun of Dhaka Special Judge's Court-5 announced the verdict. As per the judgement Hasina was given seven years' imprisonment in each of the three cases. Meanwhile, her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy and daughter Saima Wazed Putul were given five years each in prison in one of the three cases.

Bangladesh's leading newspaper The Business Standard quoted Miah Mohammad Ashis Bin Hasan, Deputy Commissioner of the Prosecution Division of Dhaka Metropolitan Police said, "In addition to our regular members, an extra two platoons of police have been deployed. Two platoons of BGB personnel are on duty. Furthermore, local police and RAB members are patrolling the periphery." 

What Sheikh Hasina said after the court verdict? 

After the controversial ICT verdict, Hasina released her statement. In her statement former PM stated, "In their distasteful call for the death penalty, they reveal the brazen and murderous intent of extremist figures within the interim government to remove Bangladesh's last elected Prime Minister, and to nullify the Awami League as a political force. Millions of Bangladeshis toiling under the chaotic, violent and socially regressive administration of Dr Mohammad Yunus will not be fooled by this attempt to short-change them of their democratic rights."