Justice Or Politics? Hasina’s 21-Year Conviction Stirs Fear and Hope Across Bangladesh

A Bangladeshi court on Thursday sentenced former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to a total of 21 years in prison across three corruption cases, compounding the legal woes of the ousted leader who already faces the death penalty for her role in a deadly crackdown on student-led protests last year. Hasina, who ruled the country for 15 consecutive years until her dramatic fall from power, was tried and convicted in absentia after fleeing to neighboring India in August 2024 amid widespread unrest. The Special Judge Court in Dhaka delivered the verdict, finding her guilty of colluding with senior officials to illegally acquire high-value state land plots during her tenure, in blatant violation of public office rules. This marks yet another chapter in the rapid unraveling of Hasina's once-ironclad legacy, as Bangladesh's interim government presses forward with accountability measures for alleged abuses under her Awami League administration.

The corruption charges stem from Hasina's alleged misuse of authority to allocate prime real estate in Dhaka and other areas to herself, her family, and associates, depriving the state of substantial revenue. Each of the three cases carried a seven-year sentence, to be served consecutively rather than concurrently, as confirmed by Khan Mohammad Moinul Hasan, chief coordinator for the Anti-Corruption Commission, in an interview with Bloomberg News. The court also implicated Hasina's children: her son, Sajeeb Wazed, and daughter, Saima Wazed, each received five-year terms for their involvement in the "illicit allocation of state land." These convictions add to a mounting tally of over 100 cases against Hasina, ranging from graft to human rights violations, highlighting the breadth of scrutiny now facing her inner circle.

Hasina's exile in New Delhi has strained India-Bangladesh relations, with the Indian government providing her sanctuary despite Dhaka's repeated extradition requests. The 77-year-old leader, once hailed as a bulwark against Islamist extremism, escaped to India via helicopter as protesters stormed her official residence, ending her dynastic rule that began in 2009. Her ouster followed a brutal summer of demonstrations in 2024, sparked by quotas for government jobs favoring descendants of freedom fighters—many tied to her party—escalating into nationwide fury over authoritarianism, economic woes, and corruption. Security forces under her command were accused of killing over 700 people, injuring thousands, and detaining opposition figures, prompting the death penalty warrant in a separate sedition trial earlier this year.

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As Bangladesh transitions under Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus's interim leadership, these verdicts signal a concerted push to dismantle entrenched patronage networks and restore institutional integrity. Hasina's supporters decry the proceedings as politically motivated "witch hunts," while critics view them as long-overdue justice for systemic graft that exacerbated inequality in one of the world's most densely populated nations. With assets frozen and international travel bans in place, the sentences—though unenforceable in exile—underscore the improbability of Hasina's return, potentially reshaping South Asian geopolitics as Dhaka seeks her handover. The cases also spotlight broader challenges in prosecuting high-level corruption in post-authoritarian states, where judicial independence remains fragile amid polarized public sentiment.

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