Nine more individuals are testifying in three separate cases involving allegations of corruption in plot allocation by the Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (RAJUK) against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy, her daughter Saima Wazed Putul, and other accused on the fifth day of the hearing.
On Tuesday, these witnesses are giving their statements in the court of Judge Md Abdullah Al Mamun of Dhaka’s Fifth Special Judge Court. However, since the accused in these cases are fugitives, there was no cross-examination of the witnesses.
The witnesses are Mohammad Uzzal Hossain, motor cleaner at the Chief Adviser’s Office; Zahidur Rahman, former sub-registrar of Kaliganj, Gazipur; Mahbubur Rahman, former registrar of Gazipur Sadar Record Room; M Mezbahur Rahman, former Metropolitan Magistrate of Dhaka; Tayeba Rahim, Higher Grade Assistant cum Account Keeper of Dhaka South City Corporation; Kamrun Nahar, typist at the Ministry of Housing and Public Works; Sefatullah, Metropolitan Magistrate of Dhaka; Md Rafiqul Islam, administrative officer at the Ministry of Housing and Public Works; and Mukti Tarafder, computer operator at the Ministry of Housing and Public Works.
ACC Prosecutor Khan Mohammad Moinul Hasan (Lipon) confirmed this information. He said that summons were issued to nine witnesses by the court. These witnesses were in court and testifying during the writing of this report.
On 31 bJuly, the court ordered the start of the trial after framing charges in these cases. As the accused were fugitives during the charge framing hearing, arrest warrants were issued against them. The three separate cases name 17 accused including Sheikh Rehana, Tulip Rizwana Siddiqui, and Sheikh Hasina; 18 accused including Azmina Siddiqui Rupanti, Radwan Mujib Siddiqui Bobby, and Sheikh Hasina; and 18 accused including Radwan Mujib Siddiqui Bobby and Sheikh Hasina.
On 20 July, a total of six cases (three each) were sent to Dhaka Special Judge Court-4 and Dhaka Special Judge Court-5 for trial.
Other accused in the cases include: Radwan Mujib Siddiqui Bobby, son of Sheikh Rehana; Shahid Ullah Khandaker, Secretary of the National Housing and Public Works Ministry; Kazi Wasi Uddin, Additional Secretary (Admin); Saiful Islam Sarkar, Administrative Officer; Purba Goldar, Senior Assistant Secretary; Anisur Rahman Miah, former Chairman of RAJUK; Mohammad Khurshid Alam, former Member (Estate and Land); Kabir Al Asad, Member (Admin and Finance); Tanmoy Das, Member (Development Control); Nurul Islam, Member (Estate and Land); Mohammad Nasir Uddin, former Member (Planning); Shamsuddin Ahmed Chowdhury, former Member; Sheikh Shahinul Islam, Director (Estate and Land-2); Hafizur Rahman, Deputy Director; Habibur Rahman; former State Minister Sharif Ahmed; and Salahuddin, former Private Secretary to the Prime Minister.
