Staff Reporter :
A Dhaka court has issued arrest warrants for former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, her daughter Saima Wazed Putul, and 16 others in connection with a fraud case involving a 10-katha plot allocation at Purbachal, Dhaka.
Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge Md. Zakir Hossain Galib accepted the charge sheet on Thursday and issued the warrants.
The court has also set May 4 for submitting a report on the execution of the arrest warrants.
Besides Sheikh Hasina and Saima Wazed Putul, the other 16 accused include: Md. Saiful Islam Sarkar, Administrative Officer, Ministry of Housing and Public Works ,Purbi Goldar, Senior Assistant
Secretary, Kazi Wasi Uddin, Additional Secretary ,Md. Shahid Ullah Khandaker, Secretary ,Md. Anisur Rahman Mia, former PA to the Chairman of RAJUK ,Mohammad Khurshid Alam, former RAJUK member, Kabir Al Asad, Tanmay Das, Mohammad Nasir Uddin ,Major (Engr.) Shamsuddin Ahmed Chowdhury (Retd.), Md. Nurul Islam, Director Sheikh Shahinul Islam, Md. Hafizur Rahman and Habibur Rahman, Deputy Director, Mohammad Salahuddin, former personal secretary-1 to the prime minister, Sharif Ahmed, former State Minister for Housing and Public Works.
Earlier, on January 12, ACC Assistant Director Afnan Jannat Keya filed a case against 16 individuals including Sheikh Hasina and Putul. Following an investigation, she submitted a charge sheet against 18 individuals on March 10. Additionally, 16 people were listed as witnesses in the charge sheet.
According to the case statement, despite already owning a house or flat in Dhaka city—within areas under RAJUK’s jurisdiction—in Dhanmondi in the name of herself and other family members, Saima Wazed Putul concealed this fact and unlawfully obtained allocation of a plot in the Purbachal New Town Housing Project, violating related laws, policies, and procedures.
The statement accuses Putul of abusing her mother Sheikh Hasina’s power to influence officials responsible for the plot allocations. While holding top public office, Sheikh Hasina allegedly misused her power, breached public trust, and influenced housing officials for personal gain.
It further alleges that, despite being ineligible by law, they colluded to secure plot number 17 on road 203 in sector 27 of the Purbachal Housing Project in Saima Wazed Putul’s name, who also completed the registration and took physical possession of the plot.
Through fraudulent and unlawful exchanges of benefits, criminal breach of trust, and illegal favoritism, the accused allegedly committed offenses punishable under the Penal Code and the Anti-Corruption Commission Act
