Sunday, 17 August, 2025
Testimony has begun in three separate corruption cases against ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy, and daughter Saima Wazed Putul over alleged irregularities in the allocation of plots in the capital’s Purbachal New Town Project.
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) initiated the cases, with hearings opening on Monday at Dhaka’s Special Judge’s Court-5.
ACC Public Prosecutor Tariqul Islam Tariq said three plaintiffs — ACC Assistant Directors Salauddin, SM Rashedul Hasan, and Afnan Jannat Keya — testified before Judge Abdullah Al Mamun.
On July 31, two special courts in Dhaka formally framed charges in six graft cases filed by the ACC against Hasina and 23 others, including close relatives and former government officials, for allegedly abusing their positions to secure prime land in Purbachal.
Of these, Judge Abdullah Al Mamun of Court-5 set three cases for testimony on August 11, while Judge Md Rabiul Alam of Special Judge’s Court-4 fixed August 13 for the remaining three.
Proceedings have been conducted in the absence of the accused, with prior notices published in newspapers summoning them to appear in court.
In addition to Hasina, the accused family members include her son Joy, daughter Putul, sister Sheikh Rehana, and Rehana’s children — UK MP Tulip Siddiq, Azmina Siddiq, and Radwan Mujib Siddiq (Bobby).
The other 16 defendants are former and current public officials, among them Sharif Ahmed, then state minister for housing and public works; Shahid Ullah Khandaker, then public works secretary; and Anisur Rahman Mia, former RAJUK chairman.
According to ACC Public Prosecutor Khan Md Mainul Hossain, RAJUK’s allocation rules permit applications only from individuals with no existing land, home, or vehicle in Dhaka. The prosecution alleges that members of Hasina’s family submitted false affidavits denying such ownership, despite evidence to the contrary.
Investigators claim the accused used political influence to unlawfully acquire a 60-katha plot in Purbachal, constituting criminal breach of trust, abuse of power, and fraud — offenses carrying a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
The ACC opened its investigation on December 26, 2024, and approved charge sheets on March 10, 2025, concluding that the allocations were made through collusion and administrative malpractice in the RAJUK Purbachal New Town Project.
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Testimony has begun in three separate corruption cases against ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy, and daughter Saima Wazed Putul over alleged irregularities in the allocation of plots in the capital’s Purbachal New Town Project.
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) initiated the cases, with hearings opening on Monday at Dhaka’s Special Judge’s Court-5.
ACC Public Prosecutor Tariqul Islam Tariq said three plaintiffs — ACC Assistant Directors Salauddin, SM Rashedul Hasan, and Afnan Jannat Keya — testified before Judge Abdullah Al Mamun.
On July 31, two special courts in Dhaka formally framed charges in six graft cases filed by the ACC against Hasina and 23 others, including close relatives and former government officials, for allegedly abusing their positions to secure prime land in Purbachal.
Of these, Judge Abdullah Al Mamun of Court-5 set three cases for testimony on August 11, while Judge Md Rabiul Alam of Special Judge’s Court-4 fixed August 13 for the remaining three.
Proceedings have been conducted in the absence of the accused, with prior notices published in newspapers summoning them to appear in court.
In addition to Hasina, the accused family members include her son Joy, daughter Putul, sister Sheikh Rehana, and Rehana’s children — UK MP Tulip Siddiq, Azmina Siddiq, and Radwan Mujib Siddiq (Bobby).
The other 16 defendants are former and current public officials, among them Sharif Ahmed, then state minister for housing and public works; Shahid Ullah Khandaker, then public works secretary; and Anisur Rahman Mia, former RAJUK chairman.
According to ACC Public Prosecutor Khan Md Mainul Hossain, RAJUK’s allocation rules permit applications only from individuals with no existing land, home, or vehicle in Dhaka. The prosecution alleges that members of Hasina’s family submitted false affidavits denying such ownership, despite evidence to the contrary.
Investigators claim the accused used political influence to unlawfully acquire a 60-katha plot in Purbachal, constituting criminal breach of trust, abuse of power, and fraud — offenses carrying a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
The ACC opened its investigation on December 26, 2024, and approved charge sheets on March 10, 2025, concluding that the allocations were made through collusion and administrative malpractice in the RAJUK Purbachal New Town Project.
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