A Dhaka court today handed former prime minister Sheikh Hasina a total of 21 years in prison after finding her guilty in three separate cases concerning alleged misuse of authority in the distribution of 30 kathas of land in the Purbachal New Town Project.

Mohammad Abdullah Al Mamun, judge of Dhaka Special Judge Court-5, delivered the verdict, imposing a fine of Tk 1 lakh in each case. If the fines are not paid, she will face an additional 18 months behind bars for each count.

Her son, Sajeeb Wazed Joy, and daughter, Saima Wazed Putul, were also convicted in their respective cases related to the same land allocations. Each was given five years of imprisonment and fined Tk 1 lakh, with an added one-month sentence in default of payment.

Across the three cases, 47 charges were brought against 23 individuals. Of them, the court found 22 defendants guilty and imposed varying terms of imprisonment.

Former state minister for Housing and Public Works Sharif Ahmed, along with former secretary Shahid Ullah Khandaker and ex–additional secretary (Administration) Kazi Wasi Uddin, each received 18-year sentences and fines of Tk 3 lakh across the three cases.

Former senior assistant secretary Purabi Goldar was sentenced to a year in each case, along with a total fine of Tk 20,000. Former RAJUK chairman Md Anisur Rahman Miah was given 15 years in prison and fined Tk 1.5 lakh in total.

Nine-year sentences were handed to former RAJUK member (Planning) Mohammad Nasir Uddin and retired Major Shamsuddin Ahmed Chowdhury, along with fines of Tk 60,000 each. Former RAJUK member (Administration and Finance) Kabir Al Asad received three years in jail and a Tk 20,000 fine in one of the cases.

Former RAJUK officials Tanmay Das (Development Control) and Md Nurul Islam (Estate and Land) were each sentenced to six years and fined Tk 40,000 in two cases. Another former RAJUK official, Mohammad Khurshid Alam, was given three years and fined Tk 15,000 in three separate cases.

Three-year prison terms and Tk 20,000 fines were imposed on former RAJUK director (Estate and Land-2) Sheikh Shahinul Islam and assistant director (Estate and Land-3) Md Kamrul Islam. Ex–deputy directors Md Hafizur Rahman and Habibur Rahman each received one year in prison and a Tk 5,000 fine.

Former deputy director Naeb Ali Sharif was sentenced to two years in two cases and fined Tk 10,000 in total, while former assistant director Mazharul Islam received a one-year sentence and a Tk 5,000 fine in a single case.

Mohammad Salahuddin, who previously served as personal secretary-1 to Sheikh Hasina, was given 12 years of rigorous imprisonment and fined Tk 2 lakh in two cases.

Only one accused—RAJUK administrative officer Md Saiful Islam Sarkar—was acquitted.

Judge Mamun read out the judgment in the absence of all convicts, as none had been apprehended at the time of the ruling. The court began announcing the verdict at 11:23 a.m. and concluded at 11:40 a.m., assigning seven years of imprisonment for each of the three cases against Sheikh Hasina.

According to the court, Sheikh Hasina was allotted the plot “without any formal application and outside the scope of lawful authority.” It further stated that the rule allowing the government to recommend individuals for land allocation should be reconsidered and not retained.

The verdict followed closing arguments delivered by both the prosecution and the defence on November 23.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) had filed the three cases in January 2025. The first was lodged on January 14 by ACC Deputy Director Md Salahuddin, accusing eight people initially, including Sheikh Hasina; the final charge-sheet listed 12. A second case was filed the same day by ACC Assistant Director SM Rashedul Hasan, naming 15 accused including Hasina and Sajeeb Wazed Joy; the charge-sheet later expanded to 17. The third case, filed on January 12 by ACC Assistant Director Afnan Jannat Keya, named 16 people initially, including Hasina and Saima Wazed; the final charge-sheet listed 18.

On July 31, 2025, charges were formally framed, and arrest warrants were issued for all accused. Over the course of the trials, 29 witnesses testified.