Staff Reporter: Arrest warrants have been issued against 18 individuals, including former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her daughter Saima Wazed Putul, in a corruption case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) over illegal plot allocations by the Capital Development Authority (RAJUK).
On Thursday, April 10, Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Zakir Hossain Galib accepted the chargesheet submitted by the ACC and issued arrest warrants as the accused were found to be absconding. This information was confirmed by Aminul Islam, Assistant Director of the ACC’s prosecution division.
The other individuals named in the arrest warrants include: Md. Saiful Islam Sarkar, Administrative Officer, Ministry of Housing and Public Works, Purbhi Goldar, Senior Assistant Secretary, Kazi Wasi Uddin, Additional Secretary, Md. Shahid Ullah Khandaker, Secretary, Md. Anisur Rahman Mia, former PA to the RAJUK Chairman, Mohammad Khurshid Alam, former RAJUK member, Kabir Al Asad, Tanmoy Das, Mohammad Nasir Uddin, Retired Major (Engineer) Shamsuddin Ahmed Chowdhury, Md. Nurul Islam, Sheikh Shahinul Islam, Director, Md. Hafizur Rahman, Deputy Director, Habibur Rahman, Mohammad Salah Uddin, and Sharif Ahmed (the last two being the investigating accused), Aminul Islam stated:
“The court has accepted the charges against 18 accused. Since they are absconding, arrest warrants have been issued. The court has scheduled May 4 for submission of the arrest execution report.”
The case was filed by ACC Assistant Director Afnan Jannat Keya on January 12. According to the case statement, Saima Wazed Putul allegedly abused the power of her mother, Sheikh Hasina, to obtain a plot in the Purbachal New Town Housing Project, despite already owning property in the Dhanmondi residential area — within RAJUK’s jurisdiction — which she and her family allegedly concealed.
The charges claim that, as the daughter of the Prime Minister and a public servant, Putul misused her position to unlawfully influence government officials involved in plot allocation. It is further alleged that she was unlawfully allotted Plot No. 17, Road No. 203, Sector 27 in the Purbachal project and that she took physical possession and registration of the plot.
The case accuses the defendants of colluding to provide and receive unlawful benefits through deceit, betrayal of public trust, and abuse of power. These actions are punishable under the Penal Code and the Anti-Corruption Act.
Following the investigation, ACC officer Afnan Jannat Keya submitted the chargesheet to the court on March 10, naming Sheikh Hasina, Saima Wazed Putul, and 16 others as accused.
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