The government has issued a gazette notification summoning 100 individuals including former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, her sister Sheikh Rehana, and son Sajib Wazed Joy to appear before a Dhaka court in connection with multiple corruption cases over land allocation in the Purbachal New Town Project.
The gazette, signed by Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Court Senior Special Judge Zakir Hossain Galib, was published on 3 July. It directs the accused to appear before the court by 20 July to face trial in six cases filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).
Public Prosecutor of the ACC, Mir Ahmed Ali Salam, confirmed the development adding that the trial court had issued the directive on 1 July. If the accused fail to appear by the specified date, the court will proceed with the trial in absentia.
The ACC had filed six separate cases between 12 and 14 January, accusing Sheikh Hasina and her family members of unlawfully securing 10-katha plots in the Purbachal New Town Project through abuse of power and corruption.
On 14 January, ACC Deputy Director Salah Uddin filed one case against eight people, including Sheikh Hasina, for allegedly misusing power to obtain a plot in the project. On 10 March, ACC Assistant Director Afnan Jannat Keya submitted the charge sheet in this case against 12 individuals, including the former prime minister.
On the same day, the ACC filed another case against 15 people, including Sheikh Hasina and her son Sajib Wazed Joy. A charge sheet was submitted on 10 March, naming 17 accused.
A third case was lodged on 13 January against 15 individuals, including Sheikh Rehana, Sheikh Hasina, and Rehana’s daughter Tulip Rizwana Siddique. The ACC filed a charge sheet on 10 March, accusing 17 individuals in that case as well.
A fourth case, also filed on 13 January, names 16 people including Azmina Siddique, Tulip Siddique, and Sheikh Hasina. The corresponding charge sheet, submitted on 10 March, lists 18 individuals.
Another case filed on the same date accuses Radwan Mujib Siddique, Tulip Siddique, and Sheikh Hasina of corruption involving a 10-katha plot. A charge sheet against 18 individuals was submitted on 10 March.
The final case was filed on 12 January against 16 people, including Saima Wazed Putul and her mother Sheikh Hasina. A charge sheet in this case, too, was filed on 10 March, listing 18 accused.
Altogether, 16 individuals have been named as prosecution witnesses in the cases. The court is set to begin proceedings after 20 July if the accused fail to respond to the summons.