11 witnesses testify on Hasina family in corruption
Staff Reporter:
Eleven new witnesses have testified in three corruption cases filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) against former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, her sister Sheikh Rehana, and other members of their family over the alleged misuse of power in acquiring government plots in the Purbachal New Town Project.
With Sunday’s depositions, a total of 65 witnesses have testified in the three cases so far. The hearings took place before Dhaka Special Judge Court-4, presided over by Judge Rabiul Alam, who set November 9 as the next date for further testimony.
The cases accuse 53 individuals, including Sheikh Hasina, Sheikh Rehana, Rehana’s daughter Tulip Rizwana Siddiq, Azmyna Siddiq, and son Radwan Mujib Siddiq, of illegally securing 30 kathas of government land through abuse of office.
In the case against Sheikh Hasina, Sheikh Rehana, and 15 others, three witnesses testified Mohammad Osman Gani, personal officer at the Chief Adviser’s Office; Uzzal Hossain, motor cleaner at the same office; and Jahidur Rahman, former sub-registrar of Kaliganj, Gazipur.
Four witnesses — Mohammad Osman Gani, Jahidur Rahman, tax lawyer Hanif Dihidar, and tax zone assistant Abdur Rahim — testified in the case against Azmyna Siddiq and Sheikh Hasina.
In the third case against Radwan Mujib Siddiq and Sheikh Hasina, four individuals — Mohammad Osman Gani, Uzzal Hossain, former Gulshan sub-registrar Rafiqul Islam, and Jahidur Rahman — gave their testimony. Court official Belal Uddin confirmed the details of the testimonies to the media.
The three cases were filed in January 2025 by different ACC officials, alleging that Sheikh Hasina and her relatives obtained multiple 10-katha plots each in the Purbachal New Town Project through irregularities and abuse of political influence.
The first case against Sheikh Rehana was filed on January 13 by ACC Deputy Director Salahuddin, accusing her of illegally securing a 10-katha plot.
The case also named Sheikh Hasina and Tulip Rizwana Siddiq among 15 others. Following investigation, the ACC submitted a charge sheet against 17 people on March 10, led by investigation officer Afnan Jannat Keya.
The accused include several top officials from the Ministry of Housing and Public Works and the Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (RAJUK) — among them former secretary Kazi Wasi Uddin, additional secretary Aliullah, former RAJUK member Mohammad Khurshid Alam, and former housing state minister Sharif Ahmed.
The second case, against Azmyna Siddiq, was also filed on January 13 by ACC Assistant Director Afnan Jannat Keya, naming Sheikh Hasina, Tulip Siddiq, and 14 others. A charge sheet against 18 people was submitted on March 10.
The third case, concerning Radwan Mujib Siddiq, was filed the same day by ACC Assistant Director S.M. Rashedul Hasan.
The investigation found evidence against 18 individuals, including Sheikh Hasina, Tulip Siddiq, and several senior bureaucrats.
On July 31, Dhaka Special Judge Court-4 formally framed charges in all three cases and ordered the trial to begin.
The charges involve alleged violations of government allocation procedures, irregularities in documentation, and abuse of political authority to obtain government land intended for public housing projects.
The ACC maintains that the accused collectively exploited their official positions for personal and family gain, while the defense has denied all allegations, calling them “politically motivated.”
The court is set to resume hearing witness testimonies on November 9.