Hearing of plot scam cases against Hasina, 52 others adjourned till Nov 2
NN ONLINE:
A court here today adjourned till November 2 the hearing of three cases filed against 53 people, including ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her sister Sheikh Rehana, over irregularities in the allocation of plots in the RAJUK Purbachal New Town Project.
Judge Robiul Alam of the Dhaka Special Judge Court-4 passed the order today, allowing a time plea of the state.
A total of 54 witnesses have so far testified in the three cases against Sheikh Hasina, Sheikh Rehana, her son Radwan Mujib Siddique, and daughters Tulip Siddique and Azmina Siddique. Of these witnesses, 19 prosecution witnesses have been examined by the court in the case against 17, including Sheikh Hasina and her sister, Sheikh Rehana.
Sixteen witnesses have testified in the case against 18, including Sheikh Hasina and Azmina Siddique, while 19 witnesses have submitted their depositions in the case against 18, including Sheikh Hasina and Radwan Mujib Siddique. Proceedings of three more identical cases against 47 people, including Sheikh Hasina, her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy and her daughter Saima Wazed Putul, are going on at the Dhaka Special Judge Court-5.
Dhaka Special Judge Court-5 on July 31 framed charges in those three cases and issued arrest warrants as the accused remain absconding. On the same day, the Dhaka Special Judge Court-4 framed charges in the other three cases filed in this connection.
Earlier, on July 20, Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Zakir Hossain Galib forwarded the matters to the trial courts, noting the accused failed to appear despite court orders. On July 1, the court had ordered a gazette notification summoning 100 accused, including Sheikh Hasina, Sheikh Rehana and Sajeeb Wazed Joy.
The ACC lodged the six cases between January 12 and 14, 2025 and filed charge sheets on March 10. According to case details, On January 14, ACC Deputy Director Md Salahuddin filed a case against eight, including Sheikh Hasina, over a 10-katha Purbachal plot scam. A charge sheet was later submitted against 12.
On the same day, ACC Assistant Director SM Rashedul Hasan filed another case against 15, including Hasina and Joy; the charge sheet named 17. On January 13, Salahuddin filed another case against 15, including Hasina, Rehana, Radwan Mujib, Tulip Siddiq, and Azmina Siddiq; the charge sheet named 17.
Another case filed that day accused 16, including Hasina, Tulip, and Azmina; the charge sheet named 18. Yet another case was filed against Radwan Mujib and 15 others; the charge sheet named 18. On January 12, ACC Assistant Director Afnan Jannat Keya filed a case against 16, including Hasina and Saima Wazed Putul; the charge sheet named 18.