First sentenced to death, now sentenced to 21 years in prison for corruption; why is Yunus after Sheikh Hasina?

News Topical, Digital Desk : A court in Bangladesh's capital, Dhaka, has sentenced incumbent Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to 21 years in prison on corruption charges. This sentence comes after the ICT previously sentenced her to death.

Actually, Dhaka Special Judge 5 Mohammad Abdullah Al Mamun has sentenced Sheikh Hasina to 7 years in three plot fraud cases.

Sheikh Hasina faces allegations of distributing government plots

Bangladesh's Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed six separate cases last January against Sheikh Hasina and her family members for allegedly illegally distributing government plots in Dhaka's Purbachal area. Verdicts in the remaining three cases will be announced on December 1.

The court sentenced Sheikh Hasina's son, Sajeeb Wazed Joy, to five years in prison and a fine of Tk 100,000. The court also sentenced Sheikh Hasina's daughter, Saima Wazed Putul, to five years in prison.

ICT finds Sheikh Hasina guilty of crimes against humanity

It is noteworthy that in July 2024, the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) of Bangladesh found Sheikh Hasina guilty of crimes against humanity for her efforts to suppress protests against the government and sentenced her to death.

Sheikh Hasina and her family did not have a lawyer in these cases, although they have denied any involvement in any corruption allegations in various speeches and statements.

India's blunt message to Yunus government

Amidst all this, on Wednesday, the Indian Foreign Ministry said that the Indian government is currently examining the request of the interim government of Bangladesh, in which the extradition of former Bangladeshi PM Sheikh Hasina has been demanded.

During a media briefing, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that New Delhi has received a formal communication from Dhaka on the matter, stressing that India remains committed to the stability of Bangladesh and the well-being of its people as part of its ongoing judicial and internal legal processes. Jaiswal said that a request has been received from Bangladesh and it is being examined.   

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