Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Family Members Sentenced in Corruption Cases
A court in Bangladesh has sentenced former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to 10 years in jail and her niece Tulip Siddiq, a British lawmaker, to four years in prison for their involvement in a government township project near Dhaka. Judge Mohammed Rabiul Alam of the Special Judge’s Court-4 also handed down seven-year prison sentences to another niece, Azmina Siddiq, and a nephew, Radwan Mujib Siddiq. The cases alleged that Hasina colluded with government officials to secure plots in the Purbachal New Town Project for herself and her family members illegally.
The verdicts were delivered as the interim government, led by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus, prepares for upcoming elections. Hasina's former ruling Awami League party has been banned from participating. Hasina and Tulip Siddiq have been sentenced in similar cases before and have denied the charges. Siddiq clarified that she did not receive any land from the government during her aunt's rule as she is not a Bangladeshi citizen.
Hasina has faced multiple convictions in corruption cases related to the project, resulting in a total of 26 years in prison. Her son, daughter, and younger sister have also been sentenced in connection with the cases. Currently, they are all residing abroad, with Tulip Siddiq living in the U.K. Hasina has been in exile in India since 2024 after being ousted in a student-led uprising. She has been sentenced to death for crimes against humanity during the uprising but has criticized the trial process, calling it a "kangaroo court."
Despite Bangladesh's request for extradition, India has not responded regarding Hasina's return. The legal proceedings and convictions have sparked controversy and debate in the country.