Sheikh Hasina and Family Sentenced Again in High-Profile Corruption Case Amid Intense Political Backlash
Fresh prison terms hit Sheikh Hasina, sister Rehana, and UK MP Tulip Siddiq in a major Bangladesh corruption case.
A Bangladesh court has issued fresh prison sentences against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, her sister Sheikh Rehana, and her niece, British MP Tulip Siddiq, in a high-profile corruption case linked to the allocation of plots under the Purbachal New Town Project in Dhaka. The verdict, delivered on November 27 by Dhaka’s Special Judge Court-5, marks a significant escalation in ongoing legal troubles for the influential political family.
Sheikh Hasina has been sentenced to five years in prison, while Sheikh Rehana received a seven-year sentence. Tulip Siddiq was sentenced to two years, drawing international attention given her role as a member of the UK Parliament. Siddiq has previously criticized the Bangladeshi legal process as politically motivated and described herself as a victim of political vendetta. The Awami League, Hasina's party, immediately condemned the verdict, questioning the legitimacy of the court proceedings and alleging political bias.
This recent judgment is one of several corruption cases brought by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) against Sheikh Hasina and her family members, which also include her children Sajeeb Wazed Joy and Saima Wazed Putul. The ACC filed six separate cases earlier this year pertaining to alleged irregularities in plot allotment. Critics argue that the ACC acts as a political tool manipulated by opposition forces, claims echoed by the Awami League which asserts that no credible evidence of corruption was presented during the trials.
The political tensions surrounding these convictions are further inflamed by earlier severe rulings against Hasina, including a death sentence from the International Crimes Tribunal in Dhaka on November 17 for alleged crimes against humanity. The Awami League has accused key figures in the interim government of using the legal system to divert attention from governance failures, calling the entire judicial process a farce lacking basic fairness.
As the legal battles continue to unfold, this case highlights the deep political fissures in Bangladesh and raises significant concerns about judicial independence and political persecution in the country’s current climate.
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