Purbachal Plot Verdict: Sheikh Hasina, Rehana, Tulip Siddiq Convicted in Corruption Case

Dhaka, Dec 2025 : A Dhaka court on Monday sentenced former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, her sister Sheikh Rehana, and niece British MP Tulip Siddiq in connection with irregularities in the allocation of plots under the Purbachal New Town project. The sentencing marks one of the most significant anti-corruption rulings in recent Bangladeshi history.

Sheikh Hasina was handed five years in prison, Rehana seven years, and Tulip Siddiq two years. Fourteen additional individuals involved in the case were sentenced to five years each. All 17 convicted persons were fined Tk 1 lakh, with failure to pay leading to an extra six months in jail.

Judge Md Rabiul Alam delivered the verdict in the Special Judge’s Court-4, Dhaka, beginning around 11 a.m., in a courtroom that was under strict security measures. The proceedings followed a series of 14 hearings, during which 32 witnesses testified regarding allegations of illegal plot allocation and abuse of office.

The ACC filed six separate cases in January, claiming that Hasina, along with senior officials of Rajuk, unlawfully secured six plots for herself, her children Sajeeb Wazed Joy and Saima Wazed Putul, and her sister Rehana with her children Bobby and Azmina. The plots, each measuring 10 kathas, were located in the diplomatic zone of Sector 27 in Purbachal.

Tulip Siddiq, the British MP, allegedly facilitated plot allocations for Rehana and her children. She has publicly denied the accusations, calling them politically motivated, and has since stepped down from her government roles in the UK, citing distraction caused by the allegations.

The accused include former Rajuk officials and senior government officers. Key figures sentenced to five years include former housing and public works state minister Sharif Ahmed, former secretary Kazi Washi Uddin, former additional secretary Md Oliullah, former administrative officer Saiful Islam Sarkar, former senior assistant secretary Purabi Goldar, and several former members and directors of Rajuk and the Prime Minister’s Office. Most of these individuals are currently fugitives, except Khurshid Alam, who remains in custody.

Charges against 29 individuals, including Hasina, Rehana, Tulip, and their relatives, were formally framed on July 31. The charges included criminal misconduct under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947, and criminal breach of trust under the Penal Code. On November 27, Hasina and her children were sentenced to a combined 21 years of imprisonment in three separate cases related to Purbachal plots.

The verdict, which has captured national and international attention, underscores the intensifying anti-corruption efforts in Bangladesh. It also highlights the complex legal entanglements of the country’s political elite, as well as the high-profile involvement of foreign politicians in domestic legal proceedings.

The ACC has been actively investigating allegations that senior political figures colluded with government officials to manipulate property allocations, raising questions about governance and accountability in Bangladesh.

The sentencing of a former Prime Minister alongside her sister, children, and a foreign lawmaker is unprecedented, marking a dramatic chapter in the nation’s political and legal landscape.

Team Maverick.

(The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)