Purbachal plots: ACC opens inquiry against Hasina, Rehana, 4 others

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has launched an inquiry against ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina, her sister Sheikh Rehana, and four of their children over allegations of illegally acquiring government plots spanning 60 kathas in the capital's Purbachal area.

The four others are Hasina's son Sajeeb Wazed Joy and daughter Saima Wazed Putul, as well as Rehana's son Radwan Mujib Siddiq and daughter Azmina Siddique.

Md Akhtar Hossain, director general of the ACC, today (26 December) said the Sheikh family members secretly and illegally acquired six 10-katha plots on Road No 203 under Sector 27 in the Diplomatic Zone of the Purbachal New City Project, with the help of high-ranking officials at the Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk).

"They obtained the allotment of the plots by abusing their power, through various irregularities, and in collusion with senior officials at Rajuk," he said while briefing journalists at the ACC headquarters in the capital.

The ACC has decided to investigate these allegations, said Akhtar, who also serves as the spokesperson for the graft watchdog.

Earlier, the High Court had formed a three-member committee to investigate irregularities in the allocation of the 60 kathas in plots. 

The committee, headed by former High Court judge Miftah Uddin Choudhury, was instructed to submit its report within four months.

Hasina and her family members took possession of the plots in 2022, after which the matter was classified as highly confidential.

According to the final allocation letter signed by Naib Ali Sharif, deputy director (Estate and Land-3) of Rajuk, the price was set at Tk3 lakh per katha, amounting to Tk30 lakh for each 10-katha plot.

Sheikh Hasina was allocated Plot No 9 on Road No 203 in Sector 27 of the proposed Diplomatic Zone within the Purbachal project. The allocation letter in her name was issued on 3 August 2022.