Image Source www.newsonair.gov
DHAKA, Feb 3, 2026— A special court in Dhaka has sentenced former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to a cumulative 10 years of rigorous imprisonment in connection with two major corruption cases. The verdict, delivered on Monday, February 2, marks a significant escalation in the legal challenges facing the deposed leader since her ouster from power in August 2024.
The convictions center on irregularities regarding the allocation of high-value residential plots under the Purbachal New Town Project, a government housing scheme managed by the Capital Development Authority (Rajuk).
Key Details of the Verdict
Judge Rabiul Alam of the Dhaka Special Judge’s Court-4 handed down the sentence, finding Hasina and several family members guilty of abusing official power to secure land for themselves and their associates.
- Sheikh Hasina: Sentenced to 5 years for each case, to be served consecutively, totaling 10 years.
- Family Members Tulip Siddiq (Niece & British MP): Sentenced to 4 years (2 years per case).
- Radwan Mujib Siddiq “Bobby” (Nephew): Sentenced to 7 years.
- Azmina Siddiq (Niece): Sentenced to 7 years.
- Fines: All convicted individuals were fined Tk 1 lakh (approx. $850 USD) per case, with an additional six months of jail time in default of payment.
Note: The trial was conducted in absentia for the majority of the accused. Sheikh Hasina remains in exile in India, where she fled following the student-led “July Uprising” that ended her 15-year rule.
Context and Previous Convictions
This 10-year sentence is the latest in a series of legal blows dealt by the interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus.
| Nov 27, 2025 Case Type – Separate Graft Charges | Sentence – 21 Years Imprisonment |
| Late 2025 Case Type – Crimes Against Humanity | Sentence – Death Sentence (Pending Appeal) |
| Feb 2, 2026 Case Type – Purbachal Housing Scam | Sentence – 10 Years Imprisonment |
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), which filed the charges in January 2025, alleged that Hasina used her influence to bypass eligibility rules, securing multiple 10-katha plots in Dhaka’s diplomatic zone for her family.
Global and Local Reactions
The verdict has sparked a sharp divide in political discourse:
- The Awami League: Hasina’s now-disbanded party labeled the cases “fabricated and malicious,” calling the judiciary a tool for the interim government’s “political vendetta.”
- Tulip Siddiq: The British lawmaker described the proceedings as a “Kafkaesque nightmare,” stating she was never served a summons or charge sheet and calling the process “flawed and farcical.”
- Interim Government: Officials maintain the trial was transparent and that the judiciary is acting independently to restore accountability in Bangladesh.
What’s Next?
The Supreme Court of Bangladesh has scheduled a hearing for February 25, 2026, regarding an appeal to enhance previous sentences against Hasina and her former Home Minister. Meanwhile, the interim government continues to face pressure regarding the potential extradition of the former leader from India.
