Court rejects 4 lawyers’ application to represent Hasina

The Dhaka Special Judge’s Court has dismissed the applications of four lawyers seeking to represent Sheikh Hasina in ongoing cases related to allegations of abuse of power in the allocation of government plots in the RAJUK Purbachal New Town Project.

On Thursday, the lawyers—Morshed Hossain Shaheen, Imran Hossain, Sheikh Farid, and Md. Topu—applied to appear on Sheikh Hasina’s behalf in three cases currently under trial. However, Judge Md. Robiul Alam rejected their petitions, citing the absence of the accused, who remain absconding.

Khan Md. Moinul Hasan (Lipon), prosecutor for the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), confirmed the court’s decision to Views Bangladesh.

Meanwhile, six witnesses were present in court and their testimonies were recorded during the proceedings.

On July 31, the same court formally framed charges against the accused in these cases. One case names 17 accused, including Sheikh Rehana, British MP Tulip Rizwana Siddique, and Sheikh Hasina. Another case involves 18 accused, among them Azmina Siddique, Tulip, and Sheikh Hasina. The third case also lists 18 accused, including Radwan Mujib Siddique, Tulip, and Sheikh Hasina. Arrest warrants have been issued against those absconding.

The ACC filed six separate cases in January this year, accusing the former prime minister and her family members of corruption in the allotment of government plots. Apart from Sheikh Hasina, the accused include her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy, daughter Saima Wazed (Putul), sister Sheikh Rehana, Rehana’s daughter Tulip Rizwana Siddique, son Radwan Mujib Siddique, and daughter Azmina Siddique, among others.