Purbachal plot scam: 7 more testify in cases against Hasina, Rehana, Tulip, Azmina, others
The court fixed 30 October as the next date for recording further testimonies
Seven more witnesses have testified on the sixth day of hearings in three separate corruption cases filed over alleged irregularities in plot allocations in Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha's (Rajuk) Purbachal New Town Project.
The cases involve ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina, her sister Sheikh Rehana, and Rehana's daughters Tulip Rizwana Siddiq and Azmina Siddiq, among others.
The testimonies were recorded today (16 October) at the Dhaka Special Judge Court-4 of Judge Md Rabiul Alam, confirmed Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) prosecutor Khan Md Mainul Hasan Lipon.
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As the accused remain absconding, the defence lawyers could not cross-examine the witnesses. The court has set 30 October as the next date for hearing further testimonies.
The witnesses who appeared before the court are Dhaka South City Corporation office assistant Reshma Begum, revenue supervisor Dewan Md Sayeed, upper division assistants Taiyab Karim and Asaduzzaman, accounting assistant Faruk Sardar, deputy tax officers Mainul Islam Chishti and Mehedi Hasan.
Earlier, on 31 July, the court framed charges and ordered the trial to begin. Arrest warrants were issued for the accused who were absent during the charge hearing.
In one of the cases, Rehana, Tulip, and Hasina have been charged along with 17 others.
In another, Azmina, Rehana's son Radwan Mujib Siddiq Bobby, and Hasina have been charged among 18 people. The third case names Bobby, Hasina, and 16 others as accused.
Other accused include former housing and public works secretary Shahid Ullah Khandaker; Additional Secretary (Administration) Kazi Wasi Uddin; Administrative Officer Saiful Islam Sarkar; Senior Assistant Secretary Purbi Goldar; former Rajuk chairman Anisur Rahman Miah; and several current and former Rajuk members and officials.
Former state minister Sharif Ahmed and the former prime minister's former personal secretary Salauddin have also been named.
In January this year, the Anti-Corruption Commission filed six separate cases, accusing the individuals of abuse of power and irregularities in the allocation of government plots under the Purbachal New Town Project.
On Wednesday, testimonies of five witnesses were recorded in the other three cases. The accused in the cases were Hasina, her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy, daughter Saima Wazed Putul, and several others as defendants.
The witnesses appeared before Judge Md Abdullah Al Mamun of Dhaka's Special Judge Court-5.
