Verdicts will be delivered on Monday, in two separate cases filed against ousted former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and others over allegations of irregularities in securing 10 kathas of government plots under the Purbachal New Town Project.
The verdicts will be delivered by Judge Rabiul Alam of Dhaka Special Judge’s Court-4.
Ashis Bin Hasan, deputy commissioner of DMP’s Prosecution Division, said that additional police forces were deployed in the court premises in the morning.
Confirming the matter, Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Public Prosecutor Mir Ahmed Ali Salam told TIMES of Bangladesh that verdicts have already been delivered in four cases related to Sheikh Hasina’s alleged plot corruption, with these two remaining.
“The verdicts in the remaining two cases will be announced today,” he said, adding that the prosecution expects a fair verdict in accordance with the law. As in the previous cases, if punishment is handed down under Section 409 of the Penal Code, it would carry life imprisonment.
Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court Chief Prosecutor Omar Faruk Faruki said Sheikh Hasina had abused her power to obtain the plots.
“Such fraud is never acceptable for someone holding the office of prime minister,” he said, adding that through these irregularities, plots were allocated not only to her but also to her sister and nephews. “Such wrongdoing deserves appropriate punishment,” he said.
In two separate cases over the allocation of a total of 20 kathas of government plots under the Purbachal New Town Project, Sheikh Hasina, Tulip and others have been made accused, with 18 defendants named in each case, bringing the total to 36.
After hearing arguments from both the prosecution and defence, Judge Rabiul Alam on 18 January fixed 2 February for the verdict in the Sheikh Hasina–Tulip–Radwan case. Similarly, following arguments concluded on 13 January, the same court fixed 2 February for the verdict in the Sheikh Hasina–Tulip–Azmina case.
According to case details, the ACC Assistant Director SM Rashedul Hasan filed a case on 13 January last year against Radwan Mujib Siddiq, alleging abuse of power and irregularities in obtaining a 10-katha plot under the Purbachal project.
Tulip Rizwana Siddiq and Sheikh Hasina were among 16 accused named in the case. Following investigation, the same ACC official submitted a charge sheet on 10 March last year against 18 accused. During the trial, 28 witnesses testified before the court.
Apart from Radwan Mujib Siddiq, Sheikh Hasina and Tulip Rizwana Siddiq, the other accused in the case include National Housing and Public Works Ministry administrative officer Md Saiful Islam Sarkar, Senior Assistant Secretary Purbi Goldar, Additional Secretary Oliullah, Secretary Kazi Washi Uddin, Secretary Shahid Ullah Khondkar, former RAJUK chairman’s PA Md Anichur Rahman Miah, former member Mohammad Khurshid Alam, Tanmoy Das, Mohammad Nasir Uddin, Major (Eng) Shamsuddin Ahmed Chowdhury (retd), Assistant Director Faria Sultana, Assistant Director Mazharul Islam, Deputy Director Nayeb Ali Sharif, Director Sheikh Shahidul Islam, former Prime Minister’s Private Secretary-1 Mohammad Salah Uddin and former State Minister for Housing and Public Works Sharif Ahmed.
According to the allegations in the Sheikh Hasina–Tulip–Azmina case, ACC Assistant Director Afnan Jannat Keya filed the case on 13 January last year against Azmina Siddiq, alleging abuse of power and irregularities in securing a 10-katha plot under the same project.
Tulip and Sheikh Hasina were among the 16 accused initially named. Following investigation, a charge sheet was submitted on 10 March last year, adding two more accused, bringing the total to 18. During the trial, 31 witnesses testified before the court.
The other accused in this case include National Housing and Public Works Ministry administrative officer Md Saiful Islam Sarkar, Senior Assistant Secretary Purbi Goldar, Additional Secretary Oliullah, Secretary Kazi Washi Uddin, former RAJUK chairman’s PA Md Anichur Rahman Miah, former member Mohammad Khurshid Alam, Tanmoy Das, Mohammad Nasir Uddin, Major (Eng) Shamsuddin Ahmed Chowdhury (retd), former Director Md Nurul Islam, Assistant Director Mazharul Islam, Director Kamrul Islam, Deputy Director Nayeb Ali Sharif, later-added former Prime Minister’s Private Secretary-1 Mohammad Salah Uddin and former State Minister for Housing and Public Works Sharif Ahmed.
Earlier, on 31 July last year, Judge Rabiul Alam of Dhaka Special Judge’s Court-4 framed charges against the accused in the two cases and ordered the commencement of trial.
