A court in Dhaka has sentenced former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to five years in prison and her niece, British lawmaker Tulip Siddiq, to two years for corruption related to a government land project. The ruling, delivered on Monday by Judge Rabiul Alam of Dhaka’s Special Judge’s Court, found Hasina guilty of abusing her position while Siddiq was convicted of improperly influencing her aunt to secure a land plot for her family.
The court also sentenced Siddiq’s mother, Sheikh Rehana, to seven years in prison, labeling her as the primary participant in the case. Each of the three defendants was fined $813 and the court ordered the cancellation of the land plot allocated to Rehana. There are currently 14 other suspects linked to this case.
Hasina’s political party, the Awami League, criticized the verdict as “entirely predictable” and alleged that the anti-corruption watchdog operates as a political tool. A statement from the party asserted that the allegations against Hasina and her family are firmly denied. They claimed the judicial process lacks fairness, a sentiment echoed by various local and international legal experts.
Siddiq, who represents Hampstead and Highgate in the UK Parliament, contended that she is a British citizen and disputed claims that she should be tried as a Bangladeshi citizen. She described the court’s decision as “a complete farce,” emphasizing her commitment to her constituents and dismissing the legal proceedings as politically motivated.
The prosecutor for the anti-corruption body, Khan Mohammed Mainul Hasan, expressed disappointment at the sentencing, stating they had sought life imprisonment for the primary defendants. He confirmed they would consult with the commission regarding their next steps following the verdict.
In January, Siddiq resigned from her position as a government minister in Prime Minister Keir Starmer‘s Cabinet, citing pressure due to her familial connections. Although she claimed she was cleared of any wrongdoing, she stepped down to prevent distraction from governmental responsibilities.
The British Labour Party expressed its stance, indicating it could not acknowledge the verdict due to Siddiq’s lack of access to a fair legal process. They criticized the trial for not providing her with the necessary details about the charges.
In a separate case on November 27, 2023, Hasina received a death sentence for crimes against humanity related to her past governance, specifically concerning a crackdown on a mass uprising that led to her ousting. She currently resides in exile in India, and many of her legal proceedings have occurred in absentia.
The ongoing turmoil in Bangladesh has led to an interim government led by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus, who announced that the next parliamentary elections are scheduled for February. Political instability continues to affect the country’s governance as Hasina and other family members remain outside of Bangladesh, facing various legal challenges.
