5 testify against Hasina, family on fourth day of witness testimony in Rajuk plot cases
The court fixed 30 September for the next date of hearing
Five witnesses testified today (17 September) in three separate corruption cases against deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina, her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy, daughter Saima Wazed Putul, and others over irregularities in plot allocations by the Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk).
The testimonies were given before the court of Judge Md Abdullah Al Mamun of Dhaka's Special Judge Court No 5. As the accused remain absconding, the witnesses could not be cross-examined. The court fixed 30 September for the next date of hearing.
Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Prosecutor Khan Md Moinul Hasan (Lipon) confirmed that summons were sent to the five witnesses, who all appeared before the court today.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
The witnesses are Sonali Bank senior officer Riad Mahmud, personal officer at the Chief Adviser's Office Mohammad Osman Gani, Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Md Zakir Hossain, Dhaka South City Corporation registrar Mithun Chandra Bala, and Dhaka South registrar Nahid Hossain.
On 31 July, the court framed charges and ordered the trials to begin. Arrest warrants were issued the same day for the accused, who were subsequently declared fugitives.
In three cases, the charges involve 12 people including Sheikh Hasina, 17 people including Sajeeb Wazed Joy, and 18 people including Saima Wazed Putul.
On 20 July, the Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge Court ordered that six cases, three each, be sent for trial to Special Judge Court 4 and Special Judge Court 5.
Other accused in the cases include Sheikh Rehana, her daughters Tulip Rizwana Siddiq and Azmina Siddiq Ruponti, son Radwan Mujib Siddiq Bobby, former Housing and Public Works Ministry secretary Shahid Ullah Khandaker, Additional Secretary (Administration) Kazi Wazi Uddin, administrative officer Saiful Islam Sarker, senior assistant secretary Purabi Goldar, former Rajuk chairman Anisur Rahman Miah, former members Mohammad Khurshid Alam, Kabir Al Asad, Tanmoy Das, Nurul Islam, Mohammad Nasir Uddin and Samsuddin Ahmed Chowdhury, director Sheikh Shahinul Islam, deputy directors Hafizur Rahman and Habibur Rahman, former state minister Sharif Ahmed, the prime minister's former principal secretary Salauddin.
The ACC filed the cases in January over corruption allegations in Rajuk plot allocations.
