A court has sentenced former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to seven years in prison in each of three separate cases filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) over alleged fraud in Rajuk plot allocations in Purbachal, totaling 21 years.
On Thursday (27 November), Judge Mohammad Abdullah Al Mamun of Dhaka’s Special Judge Court-5 announced the verdict. The cases named 23 individuals as accused, including Sheikh Hasina, Joy, and Putul.
The court had scheduled today’s verdict following the conclusion of arguments on 23 November. The prosecution sought the maximum punishment, including life imprisonment. However, no lawyers appeared on behalf of Sheikh Hasina or her family, as they were absconding. Among the three cases, one had 12 accused, another 17, and the third 18.
Earlier in January, the ACC filed six separate cases over the alleged plot allocation fraud. On 31 July, the court formally framed charges against Sheikh Hasina and other accused in these three cases.
According to the charges, while holding the highest government office, Sheikh Hasina and her family misused their power to obtain six plots on Road 203, Sector 27 of the Purbachal housing project in their own names and family members’ names, despite being ineligible.
Joy and Putul were accused of illegally securing 10-katha plots in the Purbachal New Town Housing Project and registering them. Additionally, Sheikh Hasina’s former private secretary, Mohammad Salahuddin, reportedly destroyed or removed official documents to protect the accused, according to ACC investigations.
Previously, the International Crimes Tribunal had sentenced Sheikh Hasina to death in connection with human rights violations during the July crackdown. For context, former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and former President Hossain Mohammad Ershad have also faced convictions in corruption cases.
