Verdict on Nov 27 in plot-allocation corruption case against Hasina, 11 others

The verdict in the plot-allocation corruption case against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and 11 other accused will be delivered on November 27. On Sunday, November 23, Judge Mohammad Abdullah Al Mamun of Dhaka Special Judge Court-5 set the date after hearing arguments from one accused. The remaining 11 are absconding and therefore no arguments were presented on their behalf. They could not claim innocence in self-defence hearings.

According to court sources, on January 14 the ACC Deputy Director Salahuddin filed a case against eight individuals including former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for allegedly using political influence to obtain a 10-katha government plot in the Purbachal New Town project. After investigation, on March 10 a charge sheet was filed against 12 individuals.

Along with Sheikh Hasina, the other accused include Senior Assistant Secretary of the Ministry of Housing and Public Works Purabi Goldar; former PA to the RAJUK Chairman Md Anichur Rahman Miah; former RAJUK member Shafiul Haque; Khurshid Alam; Mohammad Nasir Uddin; Major (Eng) Shamsuddin Ahmed Chowdhury (Retd); Deputy Director Nayeb Ali Sharif; Ministry Administrative Officer Md Saiful Islam Sarkar; Secretary Kazi Wasi Uddin; Secretary Shahid Ullah Khondaker; and former State Minister for Housing and Public Works Sharif Ahmed.

The case statement alleges that while holding the highest office of government, former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her family misused their power. Though ineligible, they obtained 10-katha plots in Sector 27 of the Purbachal Housing Project.

Earlier, six separate cases were filed on similar allegations. In these cases, Sheikh Hasina and several family members—including her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy, daughter Saima Wazed (Putul), sister Sheikh Rehana, Rehana’s daughter and British MP Tulip Rizwana Siddiq, son Radwan Mujib Siddiq, and another daughter Azmiena Siddiq—were accused.

On July 31, charges were framed in three of the cases; in the remaining three, the charges were framed by Judge Md Robiul Alam of Dhaka Special Judge Court-4.