A government gazette has been published summoning former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and 22 others to appear in court in connection with six separate cases over alleged misuse of power to obtain government plots in Rajuk’s Purbachal New Town Project. The gazette, signed by Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Md Zakir Hossain Galib, was issued through the Bangladesh Government Press .
On Sunday, Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) prosecutor Mir Ahmed Ali Salam confirmed the development, stating that the court had ordered the publication of the gazette in relation to the six corruption cases linked to illegal plot allocations. The next hearing in these cases has been scheduled for July 20, and if the accused fail to appear by then, the trial will proceed in their absence.
The gazette notes that arrest warrants have already been issued against all 23 accused. The court said it has reasonable grounds to believe they are in hiding to evade arrest and trial, and that there is little chance of their immediate apprehension.
Those named in the gazette include Sajeeb Wazed Joy, Saima Wazed, Sheikh Rehana, Rehana’s daughter Tulip Rizwana Siddiq, Azmina Siddiq Ruponti, and Rehana’s son Radwan Mujib Siddiq Bobby. Also listed are Housing and Public Works Ministry secretary Shahid Ullah Khandaker, additional secretary (Admin) Kazi Wasi Uddin, administrative officer Saiful Islam Sarkar, senior assistant secretary Purbhi Goldar, former Rajuk Chairman Anisur Rahman Miah, and former Rajuk members Mohammad Khurshid Alam, Kabir Al Asad, Tanmoy Das, Nurul Islam, Mohammad Nasir Uddin, and Shamsuddin Ahmed Chowdhury. Other Rajuk officials named include Sheikh Shahinul Islam (Director, Estate and Land-2), Hafizur Rahman (Deputy Director), and Habibur Rahman, as well as former State Minister Sharif Ahmed and former Prime Minister’s Private Secretary Salauddin.
The Anti-Corruption Commission filed the six separate cases in January, accusing the defendants of corruption in the allocation of plots. Charges have already been submitted to the court, and arrest warrants issued, as the accused are reportedly on the run.