For all latest news, follow The Financial Express Google News channel.
A Dhaka court has delivered its verdict in another corruption case against ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina and her family members over the allocation of plots in the Purbachal New Town project.
Alongside Hasina, the court has also found her sister Sheikh Rehana and Rehana’s daughter, British MP Tulip Siddiq, guilty and sentenced them to varying terms in prison.
Rehana received a 7-year jail term, while Hasina has been jailed for five years, bdnews24.com reports.
Meanwhile, Tulip -- a UK Labour MP who resigned as a junior minister earlier this year amid intense media scrutiny surrounding the corruption allegations against her family -- has been handed two years in prison.
Judge Rabiul Alam of Dhaka’s Fourth Special Judge's Court delivered the verdict on Monday.
The remaining 14 defendants in the case were each sentenced to five years in prison and fined Tk 100,000, with an additional six-month term if they fail to pay.
Further, the court ordered the cancellation of the Purbachal plot allocated in Rehana’s name.
Reacting to the verdict, Anti-Corruption Commission prosecutor Khan Md Mainul Hasan said the prosecution had sought the maximum penalty for the defendants.
“We had expected life sentences. That did not happen. We will consult with the commission before deciding our next course of action.”
Shahinur Rahman, the lawyer for former RAJUK member (estate and land) Mohammad Khurshid Alam, who was also convicted in the case, voiced disappointment over the ruling.
“On Thursday, three related cases were decided and Khurshid Alam received one year jail sentences in each. The nature of this case is almost identical. We had hoped that if he was convicted, the sentence would be similar. Instead, he has been given five years. We are not satisfied and will appeal.”