A Dhaka court has sentenced Sheikh Rehana, sister of deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina, to seven years in prison in a case over alleged irregularities in the allocation of a 10-katha plot in Rajuk Purbachal New Town project.
The court also sentenced Rehana’s daughter, Tulip Siddiq, a British MP, to two years in prison in the same case.
Judge Md Rabiul Alam of Dhaka Special Judge’s Court-4 delivered the verdict on Monday. The court also sentenced Sheikh Hasina to five years in jail in the case.
However, the three were each fined Tk1 lakh.
Rajuk former member Khurshid Alam, the only accused who had surrendered, was produced before the court in the morning. He was also sentenced to five years in prison.
Hasina, Rehana, Tulip, and the remaining 13 accused, who are currently absconding, were tried in absentia.
Extra security measures were taken in the court area, with additional police and Border Guard Bangladesh personnel deployed.
According to the case documents, ACC Deputy Director Md Salahuddin filed the case on 13 January naming 15 individuals, including Hasina, Rehana and Tulip. The investigation officer later submitted a charge sheet against 17 accused on 10 March.
Apart from Hasina, Rehana, and Tulip, the other 14 accused in the case include senior officials from the Ministry of Housing and Public Works and former members of Rajuk. Of them, administrative officer Md Saiful Islam Sarkar, senior assistant secretary Purabi Goldar, additional secretary Oliullah, and secretary Kazi Wasi Uddin, personal assistant to a former Rajuk chairman, Md Anichur Rahman Miah, and four former Rajuk members are Mohammad Khurshid Alam, Tanmoy Das, Mohammad Nasir Uddin, and Major (retd) Samsuddin Ahmed Chowdhury.
Others are Md Nurul Islam, a former director of Rajuk; Mazharul Islam, a former assistant director; Nayeb Ali Sharif, a former deputy director; Mohammad Salah Uddin, who was private secretary to the prime minister; and Sharif Ahmed, the former state minister for Housing and Public Works.
Dhaka Special Judge Court-4 framed charges in the three cases on 31 July, while Dhaka Special Judge Court-5 framed charges in three other similar cases the same day.
