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New Delhi: On November 17, the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) handed Sheikh Hasina a death sentence. Today, a Dhaka court is set to deliver verdicts in three corruption cases involving the former Bangladesh prime minister and her family members. These rulings mark the first corruption ruling against Hasina.
Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) is trying Hasina for land and plot allocation cases involving Purbachal and Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (RAJUK).
The former PM has been accused of abusing her power and favouritism while in office to illegally acquire government-allocated land in the planned housing project Purbachal New Town (outside Dhaka) through the land-development authority RAJUK.
The verdict will be delivered in three separate corruption cases filed against Hasina, her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy, daughter Saima Wazed Putul, and 20 others. Irregularities have been alleged in the Rajuk plot allocation. There are other parallel cases and three main cases filed by ACC concerning these allocations. The court charging process began with charges framed on July 31. On November 17, the court had completed recording witness testimonies in all three cases.
According to charge sheets, the former PM concealed information about properties owned by her and other family members within areas under Rajuk’s jurisdiction. The charge sheets claim that Hasina — along with her family members — secured a 10-katha plot (and allegedly up to 60 katha across multiple plots) by hiding information, such as declaring no prior land or property in Dhaka, and by skirting stipulated eligibility rules.
Beyond the Hasina family, 20 others are charged across the three cases, though only one is currently in custody. Former Rajuk member (Estate & Land) Mohammad Khurshid Alam is expected to be present in court for the verdict. Arrest warrants were issued after the ACC filed charges, as many of the accused — including Hasina — were absent or had reportedly fled the country.
Apart from these cases, one of the most serious allegations involves the embezzlement of around USD 5 billion in the Russian-funded Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant project. It has been alleged that, during Hasina’s regime, funds allocated for the project were diverted or misappropriated.
