A Dhaka court has sentenced deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina to five years of imprisonment in a corruption case involving fraudulent allocation of Rajuk plots in the capital’s Purbachal project.
Judge Rabiul Alam of Dhaka’s Special Judge Court-4 delivered the verdict on Monday in absence of the three. The court also handed Sheikh Rehana seven years’ rigorous imprisonment, while her daughter and British lawmaker Tulip Siddiq received two years’ imprisonment.
All three have also been fined Tk1 lakh each.
The judge entered the courtroom at 11:29am. At the start of the verdict, Judge Rabiul Alam pointed out that the accused were ordered to appear before the court, and a gazette had been issued for their attendance.
As they ignored the court order, the trial proceeded in absentia. Of the 17 accused, only Khurshid Alam surrendered before the court.
Earlier, on 27 November, Sheikh Hasina was sentenced to 21 years’ imprisonment – seven years in each of three separate Purbachal plot corruption cases. In another case, her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy and daughter Saima Wazed Putul were each sentenced to five years.
Monday’s judgement means Sheikh Rehana and her daughter Tulip Siddiq now face fresh convictions. In this case, Sheikh Rehana is the principal accused, as she is a plot recipient. Tulip is the second accused, while Sheikh Hasina is the third.
While announcing the verdict, the judge said Tulip Siddiq had allegedly used her “special influence” to pressure her aunt Sheikh Hasina in securing Purbachal plots for her mother, brother and sister.
He said Tulip applied pressure through various channels and that several of her close associates influenced Sheikh Hasina on her behalf.
The other accused are – administrative officer Saiful Islam Sarkar of the Ministry of Housing and Public Works; senior assistant secretary Purabi Goldar; additional secretary Aliullah; secretary Kazi Wasi Uddin; former PA to the Rajuk chairman Anisur Rahman Miah; former Rajuk member Mohammad Khurshid Alam; Tanmoy Das; Mohammad Nasir Uddin; Major (Eng) Shamsuddin Ahmed Chowdhury (Retd); former director Nurul Islam; assistant director Mazharul Islam; deputy director Nayeb Ali Sharif; former prime minister’s private secretary-1 Mohammad Salahuddin; and former state minister for housing and public works Sharif Ahmed.
Among them, Khurshid Alam is in custody. Arrest warrants remain in force for the absconding accused.
The Anti-Corruption Commission filed six separate cases in January over irregularities in Purbachal plot allocation. Three verdicts have already been delivered. Monday’s ruling is the fourth. Charges were framed on 31 July, and 32 witnesses testified during the trial.
According to case documents, Sheikh Hasina and members of her family abused power entrusted to them while holding the highest office of government.
Despite not meeting eligibility requirements, they were shown as “poor applicants” and fraudulently obtained six plots on Road 203, Sector 27 of the Purbachal New Town project in the names of Sheikh Hasina and her family members.
