Bangladesh court sentences Sheikh Hasina to 21 years in corruption cases
Hasina was convicted in three Purbachol land-allocation cases and sentenced in absentia, days after the ICT had already handed her the death penalty over alleged crimes against humanity
A Bangladesh court on Thursday (November 27) sentenced ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to 21 years of imprisonment in three corruption cases, local media reported.
The three cases were lodged over alleged irregularities in allocating plots in the Rajuk New Town Project in Purbachol, state-run BSS news agency said.
The judge pronounced the judgement in absence of the convict as she is yet to be arrested and was tried in absentia. Hasina was sentenced to seven years in each case, totalling 21 years in prison.
“The plot was allotted to Sheikh Hasina without any application and in a manner that exceeded the legally authorised jurisdiction,” the court observed in its judgement.
Bangladesh's International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) has already awarded the death sentence to Hasina after finding her guilty of crimes against humanity linked to the July 2024 anti-government protests.
(With agency inputs)