Verdict in 3 cases against Hasina, Joy, 45 others on 27 Nov

Bangla Press Desk:   A Dhaka court on Sunday set 27 November for delivering the judgement in three cases filed against 47 individuals, including ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy and daughter Saima Wazed Putul, over allegations of plot allocation irregularities in the RAJUK Purbachal New Town Project.

Judge Mohammad Abdullah Al Mamun of Dhaka Special Judge Court-5 set the date as arguments in the cases concluded, said Mir Ahmed Ali Salam, public prosecutor of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). He also said that the testimony of 91 witnesses had been recorded in the cases. “We have sought the highest punishment for the accused,” he added.

According to the case documents, the accused are charged under Section 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947, where the punishment is seven years’ imprisonment or a fine, or both.

The other charges fall under Sections 109, 161, 163, 164, 165A, 201, 217, 218, 409 and 420 of the Penal Code. Among these sections, the highest punishment comes under Section 409, which carries a sentence of life imprisonment, or imprisonment of either description for a term extending up to ten years along with a fine.

ACC Public Prosecutor Md Mainul Hasan Lipon said the accused did not get any defence as they were fugitives. One accused, Khorshed Alam, surrendered before the court and is now in custody.

“The highest punishment for the charges mentioned is life imprisonment, and we have sought that from the court. The accused’s properties may also be confiscated along with a fine,” he added.

According to the charge sheet, former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and her family abused their power while holding the highest position in the government and allegedly secured six plots - each measuring 10 kathas - in the Purbachal New Town Project despite not being eligible for allocation.

As per RAJUK regulations, persons with no plot, house or vehicle in Dhaka are eligible to apply for plot allocation. However, the charge sheet states that Sheikh Hasina and her family submitted a false affidavit to RAJUK, claiming that they did not own any land or property in Dhaka, and obtained a total of 60 kathas of land by misusing power, which constitutes a criminal offence.

Meanwhile, Judge Rabiul Alam of Dhaka Special Judge Court-4 on Sunday set 25 November for presenting arguments in another three identical cases filed against 17 individuals, including Sheikh Hasina’s sister Sheikh Rehana, her son Radwan Mujib Siddiq Bobby, and daughters Tulip Rizwana Siddiq and Azmina Siddiq Ruponti.

BP/TD