Purbachal Plot Scam: Hasina, family among 27 facing trial

Staff Reporter :

Two Dhaka special courts have formally commenced trial proceedings in six high-profile corruption cases related to the controversial Purbachal New Town Project, issuing arrest warrants for 27 individuals, including former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, her sister Sheikh Rehana, and their children.

The cases, brought by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), allege abuse of power and irregularities in the allocation of residential plots by Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk), the government body overseeing one of Dhaka’s largest planned urban developments.

Among the accused are Sheikh Hasina’s son Sajeeb Wazed Joy, daughter Saima Wazed Putul, and Rehana’s children-Radwan Mujib Siddique Bobby, Tulip Rizwana Siddique, and Azmina Siddique Ruponti.

Following hearings on charge framing, Dhaka Special Judge’s Court-4, presided over by Judge Md Robiul Alam, and Dhaka Special Judge’s Court-5, led by Judge Md Abdullah Al Mamun, issued the arrest warrants after it was reported that the accused are not currently present in the country.

According to ACC Public Prosecutor Mir Ahmed Ali Salam, witness testimony is scheduled to begin on 11 August in three of the cases under Judge Md Abdullah Al Mamun, while the remaining three-assigned to Judge Md Robiul Alam-will begin proceedings on 13 August.

Court documents indicate that one of the cases under Judge Mamun includes 12 accused, including Hasina. Another lists 17 accused, including her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy, while a third names 18 individuals, among them Saima Wazed Putul.

The other three cases, overseen by Judge Robiul Alam, include 17, 18, and 18 defendants respectively. These rosters feature Sheikh Rehana, Tulip Rizwana Siddique, Azmina Siddique Ruponti, and Radwan Mujib Siddique Bobby, along with Hasina.

In addition to members of the former prime minister’s family, the accused include senior former government officials and Rajuk executives.

These include former Housing and Public Works Secretary Shahid Ullah Khandaker, ex-Additional Secretary Kazi Washi Uddin, former Administrative Officer Saiful Islam Sarkar, senior officials Purabi Golder and Kabir Al Asad, and former Rajuk Chairman Anisur Rahman Miah.
Also named in the cases are Hasina’s former private secretary Salahuddin and former state minister Sharif Ahmed.

The six cases were filed by the ACC in January this year following allegations of serious irregularities in the distribution of high-value residential plots. With chargesheets now submitted, the courts are proceeding with full trials.

Earlier, the Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge’s Court had ordered the division of the six cases, assigning three to each of the two special courts.
As proceedings begin, the trials are expected to draw significant attention, given the political sensitivities surrounding one of the most high-profile corruption investigations in recent memory.