Daijiworld Media Network - Dhaka/New Delhi

Dhaka/New Delhi, Nov 28: Deposed Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was on Thursday sentenced to 21 years in prison after a Dhaka court convicted her in three corruption cases linked to unlawful land allotments under the Purbachal New Town housing project.

The 78-year-old former leader, currently living in New Delhi after fleeing Bangladesh during last year’s mass uprising, received seven years’ imprisonment in each case, to run consecutively. She was also fined Taka 1 lakh per case, with an additional 18 months’ imprisonment in case of non-payment.

Hasina’s children — Sajib Wajed Joy and Saima Wazed Putul — were also convicted. Both were handed five-year prison terms, a fine of Taka 1 lakh, and a month’s imprisonment in default.

According to the court’s verdict, the land at the centre of the case was allotted to Hasina without any application, bypassing due procedure and exceeding authorised limits.

The ruling comes just 10 days after a special tribunal sentenced Hasina to death in absentia for alleged “crimes against humanity” linked to last year’s crackdown on student protesters. Hasina has repeatedly asserted that the charges are politically motivated.

She has been in India since August 5 last year, after mass anti-government protests forced the downfall of her Awami League government. A Dhaka court subsequently declared her a fugitive. Security around the Dhaka court complex was tightened ahead of Thursday’s verdict.

Alongside the Hasina family, 20 others, including a former junior housing minister and officials of the housing ministry and Rajuk, were sentenced with varying terms. One junior officer was acquitted. Only one accused appeared in person and received a three-year sentence.

Bangladesh’s Anti-Corruption Commission had filed six cases in January, submitting chargesheets in March. The interim government has formally sought Hasina’s extradition from India, and New Delhi has confirmed that the request is currently under review.