Staff Reporter:
A Dhaka court yesterday convicted ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina and sentenced her to a total of 10 years’ imprisonment, while her niece Tulip Siddiq was handed four years in jail, in two separate cases over irregularities in the allocation of two 10-katha plots under the RAJUK New Town Project.
Judge Robiul Alam of Dhaka Special Judge Court-4 delivered the verdict at around 12:30 pm after commencing proceedings at 12:05 pm and reading out the judgment from 12:09 pm.
In one of the cases, the court also sentenced Tulip’s sister Azmina Siddiq and brother Radwan Mujib Siddiq to seven years’ imprisonment each.
The court fined five convicts Taka one lakh each in each of the cases, directing them to suffer six months’ additional imprisonment in default of payment. It also cancelled the allotment of the two 10-katha plots allotted to Azmina and Radwan.
Earlier, on January 13, 2026, the court fixed February 2 for delivering judgment in a case against 18 people, including Sheikh Hasina, Tulip Siddiq and Azmina Siddiq, after both prosecution and defence concluded their arguments.
In that case, the court sentenced Sheikh Hasina to five years’ imprisonment, Tulip to two years and Azmina Siddiq to seven years.
It also convicted and sentenced former RAJUK administrative officer Md Saiful Islam Sarkar, former senior assistant secretary Purabi Goldar, former additional secretaries Wali Ullah and Kazi Wasi Uddin, former RAJUK chairman Md Anisur Rahman Miah, former members Tanmay Das, Mohammad Nasir Uddin and Major (Retd) Shamsuddin Ahmed Chowdhury, former directors Nurul Islam and Qamrul Islam, former assistant director Mazharul Islam, former deputy director Naeb Ali Sharif, former person-al secretary-1 to the ousted prime minister Mohammad Salahuddin, and former state minister for Hous-ing and Public Works Sharif Ahmed to five years’ imprisonment each, along with a fine of Taka one lakh.
The court also sentenced former RAJUK member (Estate and Land) Mohammad Khurshid Alam- the only accused arrested and tried in person- to one year’s imprisonment and fined him Taka one lakh.
Earlier, on January 5, the court concluded recording of testimonies in the case. ACC Assistant Director and investigation officer Afnan Jannat Keya testified as the last prosecution witness.
A total of 31 witnesses testified in the case. The ACC filed the case on January 13, 2025, and submitted the charge sheet on March 10, 2025.
Meanwhile, the same court on January 18 fixed February 2 for delivering judgment in another case against 18 people, including Sheikh Hasina, her nephew Radwan Mujib Siddiq and niece Tulip Siddiq.
In that case, the court yesterday sentenced Sheikh Hasina to five years’ imprisonment, Radwan to seven years and Tulip to two years.
It also sentenced former RAJUK officials Md Saiful Islam Sarkar, Purabi Goldar, Wali Ullah, Kazi Wasi Uddin, Shahid Ullah Khandaker, Md Anisur Rahman Miah, Tanmay Das, Mohammad Nasir Ud-din, Major (Retd) Shamsuddin Ahmed Chowdhury, Fariya Sultana, Mazharul Islam, Naeb Ali Sharif, Sheikh Shahinul Islam, Mohammad Salahuddin and former state minister Sharif Ahmed to five years’ imprisonment each and fined them Taka one lakh.
Former RAJUK member Mohammad Khurshid Alam was sentenced to one year’s imprisonment and fined Taka one lakh in the case. A total of 28 witnesses testified, while the court framed charges on July 31, 2025, marking the formal commencement of the trial.
