Purbachal plot corruption: Arrest warrants issued against Hasina, Joy in two cases

A Dhaka court has issued arrest warrants against ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina, her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy, and 27 others in two separate cases filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) over alleged irregularities in acquiring plots from Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk) in the Purbachal New Town Project.

Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Zakir Hossain Galib today (15 April) issued the order after taking into cognisance the charge sheets submitted by the ACC.

Among the other accused named in the arrest warrants are officials from the Ministry of Housing and Public Works, including Administrative Officer Saiful Islam Sarkar, Senior Assistant Secretary Purabi Goldar, Additional Secretary (Administration) Kazi Wasi Uddin, and Secretary Md Shahid Ullah Khandaker, among others, according to media reports.

Media reports also said the court fixed 28 April for submitting a report on whether the accused have been arrested. 

Earlier on 13 April, the court issued arrest warrants for Hasina, her sister Sheikh Rehana, and 51 other accused in three separate cases filed over alleged abuse of power in acquiring plots in the Purbachal Project. 

Rehana's son Radwan Mujib Siddiq Bobby, daughter Tulip Rizwana Siddiq and Azmina Siddiq are also among the accused.

Back on 14 January, ACC filed two separate cases against Hasina and Joy for allegedly acquiring the plots in Purbachal from Rajuk by leveraging their influence.

They were made the prime accused in the cases. Hasina has also been accused of being an accomplice in the case involving Joy along with 15 individuals, including officials of Rajuk and the Ministry of Housing and Public Works.

Previously, in December last year, the ACC launched an inquiry against Hasina, Rehana, Joy, Hasina's daughter Saima Wazed Putul, Tulip, Bobby, and Azmina over allegations of illegally acquiring 60 kathas of government plots in Purbachal.

Talking to reporters at the time, ACC Director General Akhtar Hossain had said the Sheikh family members secretly and illegally acquired six 10-katha plots on Road 203 under Sector 27, which was in the proposed Diplomatic Zone of the Purbachal New Town Project.

"They obtained the allotment of the plots by abusing their power, through various irregularities, and in collusion with high-ranking officials at Rajuk," he told journalists on 26 December.

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 a former High Court justice, 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. 

Hasina was allocated Plot 9 on Road 203 of Sector 27. The allocation letter in her name was issued on 3 August 2022.