A court in Dhaka delivered a significant verdict on Monday, convicting ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and sentencing her to ten years of imprisonment. The case centered on alleged irregularities in the allocation of two plots within the Rajuk New Town Project, marking another legal development in Bangladesh's turbulent political landscape.
Family Members Also Face Sentencing in Separate Cases
In a related proceeding, the court sentenced Sheikh Hasina's niece, Tulip Siddiq, to four years in jail. The trials were conducted in absentia, meaning neither defendant was physically present during the proceedings. Additionally, Tulip Siddiq's sister, Azmina Siddiq, and brother, Radwan Mujib Siddiq, each received seven-year prison terms in one of the cases.
Supreme Court Sets Date for Appeal Hearing in Crimes Against Humanity Case
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court of Bangladesh has scheduled February 25 for a crucial hearing. This appeal, filed by the prosecution of the Bangladesh International Crimes Tribunal, seeks to enhance the sentences of Sheikh Hasina and former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal. Their current sentences of imprisonment until natural death stem from convictions in "crimes against humanity" cases related to the 2024 protests that ultimately led to Hasina's ouster from power.
Chamber Justice Md Rezaul Haque of the Supreme Court's appellate division confirmed the hearing date and referred the matter to a full bench of the apex court. This legal maneuver ensures a comprehensive review of the prosecution's request for stricter penalties, adding another layer to the complex judicial proceedings surrounding the former prime minister and her associates.
