Testimony Begins in Three Hasina Corruption Trials at Dhaka Special Court

Three Corruption Trials Against Ousted PM Hasina and Children Open to Testimony in Dhaka

Testimony has begun in three simultaneous corruption trials against Bangladesh's ousted former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy, and her daughter Saima Wazed Putul at the Special Judge's Court-5 in Dhaka, presided over by Judge Mohammad Abdullah Al Mamun. The proceedings, monitored by the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), are being conducted in absentia, as all 48 defendants ? including Hasina and her children ? have been designated fugitives after failing to appear in court.

The Anti-Corruption Commission Deputy Director Salahuddin Ahmed was among the first to give testimony at the opening session. Court authorities deployed extra police around the building and restricted public access due to the high-profile nature of the defendants. Prosecutors confirmed that preparations for the witness phase were complete and that evidence gathering was proceeding on schedule.

Hasina has been in exile in India since August 5, 2024, when she was ousted from power by a student-led mass uprising after fifteen years in office. Her family members are also abroad. The International Crimes Tribunal had previously issued two arrest warrants against her over charges of mass killings and forced disappearances during the 2024 protests. A UN fact-finding report estimated that around 1,400 people were killed ? including children ? during the crackdown, allegedly carried out by law enforcement under her government's direction.

What the Prosecution Alleges: Land, Power, and Family Benefit

The cases before Special Judge's Court-5 accuse the defendants of unlawfully allocating government land and other abuses of power. Prosecutors allege that Hasina, using her authority as prime minister, approved the transfer of 30 kathas ? equivalent to 21,600 square feet or approximately 2,007 square metres ? of state-owned land in the Purbachal New Town Project for the personal benefit of herself and family members.

According to the ACC, the allocation bypassed mandatory legal procedures and benefited individuals with personal or political connections to Hasina's family. The same land allocation is the subject of multiple charge sheets filed by the ACC, covering both the direct recipient families and intermediaries who allegedly facilitated the transfers.

The three trials running simultaneously reflect the ACC's strategy of pursuing multiple case threads against the same family in parallel ? targeting Hasina separately from her son Joy and daughter Putul on the basis of distinct allegations specific to each defendant's alleged role in the scheme. Prosecutors say a successful conviction in any of the cases could permanently bar the defendants from holding public office in Bangladesh.

Courtroom Security and Procedural Framework

The Special Judge's Court-5 session was conducted under tight security. Armed police were stationed at all entry points, and journalists were permitted access only to a designated media area. The court's state news agency, BSS, confirmed that all defendants are considered fugitives. Under Bangladeshi law, trials in absentia are permitted in corruption cases when defendants have been formally served and have failed to appear or have fled jurisdiction.

Legal observers noted that conducting three separate trials simultaneously against members of the same family is logistically complex and creates procedural risks, particularly around witness management and the consistency of testimony across cases. The defence, where active, would normally seek to challenge consistency ? though with most defendants absent and unrepresented in court, procedural challenges have been limited.

What a Conviction Would Mean

Beyond the prison terms ? which Hasina and others have already received in a related case decided on February 2, 2026 ? a conviction in the Purbachal cases carries implications for the Awami League's political future. If Hasina and her children are found guilty in these additional proceedings, any prospect of a return to Bangladeshi politics by the family or a reconstituted Awami League under their leadership becomes legally foreclosed.

Prosecutors say they are ready to present documentary evidence, testimony from land registry officials, and records from the Purbachal New Town Project authority. Whether the trials will proceed at pace or face the delays that characterise much of Bangladesh's legal system ? the original Purbachal investigation began in December 2024 ? is a question that accountability advocates are tracking closely.