Dhaka, Bangladesh — Ousted former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been sentenced to 21 years in prison in separate corruption cases related to alleged land grabs, marking yet another legal blow to the exiled leader. The ruling was issued on Thursday, with the court finding Hasina guilty of illegally acquiring plots of land in Dhaka’s Purbachal New Town project for herself and her family, despite their ineligibility.

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Background: Hasina’s Legal Troubles

This latest ruling follows Hasina’s death sentence last week for crimes against humanity over a violent crackdown on a student-led uprising in 2024 that ultimately forced her from office.

The 78-year-old former leader fled Bangladesh by helicopter on August 5, 2024, amid weeks of mass protests against her “autocratic rule.” She is currently residing in India and has defied court orders to return to Bangladesh. New Delhi is reportedly reviewing Dhaka’s extradition request.

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Details of the Land Grab Verdict

Judge Abdullah Al Mamun ruled that Hasina’s actions “demonstrate a persistent corruption mindset rooted in entitlement, unchecked power, and a greedy eye for public property.” The court emphasized that Hasina “treated public land as a private asset” and manipulated official procedures to benefit herself and close relatives.

• Each of the three corruption cases resulted in seven-year sentences, to be served consecutively.
• Hasina’s children, Sajeeb Wazed and Saima Wazed, were sentenced to five years in one of the cases.
• Other details of the verdict remain limited, and a separate verdict on additional land-grabbing charges is expected on December 1, 2025.

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Public and Legal Reactions

Shaina Begum, mother of 20-year-old protester Sajjat Hosen Sojal, who was killed during the 2024 crackdown, expressed frustration over the slow justice process:

“I cannot be calm until she [Hasina] is brought back and hanged in this country.”

The public prosecutor, Khan Moinul Hasan, announced plans to appeal the sentence, seeking the maximum penalty against Hasina. Meanwhile, Hasina and her Awami League party have denounced the trials, and some international human rights groups have questioned the credibility and fairness of the court proceedings.

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Political Context

Bangladesh is currently undergoing a delicate political transition under an interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, with new elections planned for February 2026.

The United Nations has reported that up to 1,400 people were killed during crackdowns as Hasina attempted to retain power amid the 2024 protests. The ongoing legal cases, combined with her exile, underscore the deep political divisions still facing Bangladesh.

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Key Takeaways

• Sheikh Hasina sentenced to 21 years for land grab corruption in Dhaka.
• Hasina remains in exile in India, defying court orders to return.
• Her children Sajeeb and Saima Wazed received prison sentences in one of the cases.
• Prosecutor vows to appeal, seeking maximum penalties.
• Bangladesh faces ongoing political transition with elections planned in February 2026.
• Human rights groups have questioned the fairness of the trials.