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PTC News Desk: A special court in Bangladesh on Sunday handed former prime minister Sheikh Hasina a cumulative 10-year jail term in two separate corruption cases linked to alleged irregularities in the allocation of government land under the Purbachal New Town project.

The verdict was delivered by Dhaka Special Judge Court-4, which held Hasina guilty of misusing her official position in the allotment of a 20-katha residential plot in the capital. She was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment in each case, with the terms to run consecutively.

In the same order, the court also convicted several members of Hasina’s family. British MP and her niece, Tulip Siddiq, was sentenced to four years in prison — two years in each case. Azmina Siddiq received a seven-year sentence in one case, while Hasina’s son, Radwan Mujib Siddiq, also known as Bobby, was awarded seven years’ imprisonment.

The rulings were pronounced by Judge Robiul Alam. The cases stem from allegations that influential political figures abused their authority to obtain residential plots under the Purbachal New Town government housing scheme. The court concluded hearings earlier this month after recording testimony from 31 witnesses, including the final prosecution witness, ACC Assistant Director and investigation officer Afnan Jannat Keya, who was later cross-examined by the defence.