Dhaka, Bangladesh — A court in Bangladesh’s capital on Monday sentenced ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to five years in prison and her niece, British Labour Member of Parliament Tulip Siddiq, to two years in prison, following their convictions in a corruption case.
The verdict, delivered by Judge Rabiul Alam of Dhaka’s Special Judge’s Court, was issued in absentia for both women. The case relates to a government land project known as the Purbachal New Town project in a Dhaka suburb.
Judge Alam stated that Ms. Hasina was found guilty of misusing her power as prime minister, while Ms. Siddiq, the MP for Hampstead and Highgate in London, was convicted of corruptly influencing her aunt to secure a piece of land in the project for her mother.
Ms. Siddiq’s mother, Sheikh Rehana, received the longest sentence of seven years in prison, having been deemed the prime participant in the case.
Ms. Hasina has been living in exile in India since her ousting by a mass uprising last year. Ms. Siddiq, who serves in the UK Parliament, has consistently denied the allegations, stating the trial was politically motivated.
