'Hasina was greedy for wealth': Judge says during Purbachal plot scam case verdict
In his detailed observations, Judge Mamun stated that Sheikh Hasina disregarded the law regarding Rajuk plot allocations, as he highlighted that while the process requires applying on a prescribed form, Sheikh Hasina failed to do so
Ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina's actions in the Rajuk plot allocation scandal demonstrated "greed for wealth," said Judge Mohammad Abdullah Al Mamun of Dhaka Special Judge Court-5.
The judge's observations came as the court concluded reading the verdicts at 12:05pm today (27 November).
The judge noted that despite not having made a formal application for a plot in the Purbachal New Town Project according to regulations, Hasina did apply to take possession of the plot.
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In the separate corruption cases related to plot allocations, Sheikh Hasina was sentenced to 21 years in prison (seven years in each of three cases), while her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy and daughter Saima Wazed Putul each received five-year prison sentences with Joy receiving an additional Tk1 lakh fine.
In his detailed observations, Judge Mamun stated that Sheikh Hasina disregarded the law regarding Rajuk plot allocations as he highlighted that while the process requires applying on a prescribed form, Sheikh Hasina failed to do so.
A file to allocate a plot to the deposed prime minister was opened on 18 July 2022, and preliminary approval was granted by the Rajuk board on 26 July. She was informed of the plot approval the next day.
Simultaneously, she was asked to submit an affidavit confirming that no plot had been allocated to her or her family in Dhaka through any government or semi-government institution.
Sheikh Hasina subsequently submitted an affidavit to Rajuk. In this affidavit, she concealed the fact that a plot had been allocated to her husband in 1973, stating that no plot had been allocated in her name in Dhaka.
Furthermore, this affidavit lacked any witness, lawyer, or notary, rendering it without legal basis.
"She is not an ordinary citizen," the judge observed. "She has legal advisors, a law minister, an attorney general. If an affidavit is not notarised, it has no legal standing."
The judge further noted that on 3 August 2022, Rajuk granted final approval for the plot in Sheikh Hasina's name, after which she was again asked to submit an affidavit. She submitted another identical affidavit, both of which lacked legal validity.
Corruption permeates, justice must prevail
The judge also said, "Corruption has permeated every sector of our society, and corrupt individuals have been rewarded. If Sheikh Hasina had not taken the plot, another deserving applicant would have received it. Therefore, Sheikh Hasina committed fraud.
"This verdict will serve as a precedent to ensure that deserving individuals receive plot allocations," Judge Mamun concluded.
The cases involved separate charges.
In Sheikh Hasina's case, it was alleged that as prime minister, she abused her power to allocate a 10-katha plot in Purbachal New Town, concealing information in an affidavit despite already owning a house in Dhaka.
The other defendants allegedly conspired to illegally allocate plot number 9 on road 203 in Sector 27 of Purbachal in her name, thereby violating sections of the Penal Code 1860 (161/409/420/109) and the Prevention of Corruption Act (5/2).
For Sajeeb Wazed Joy, the allegation was that he concealed his existing property in Dhaka to violate plot allocation laws and influence officials through his mother's position. The defendants allegedly conspired to allocate plot number 15, a 10-katha plot on road 203 in Sector 27, Purbachal, in his name.
This also led to charges under sections 161/163/164/409/420/109 of the Penal Code and 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
Saima Wazed Putul faced similar allegations of concealing her property in Dhaka, violating plot allocation laws, and using her mother's influence.
The defendants allegedly conspired to allocate plot number 15, a 10-katha plot on road 203 in Sector 27, Purbachal, in Saima Wazed's name. This also led to charges under sections 161/163/164/409/420/109 of the Penal Code and 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed six separate cases in January over these corruption allegations, naming Sheikh Hasina, Sajeeb Wazed Joy, Saima Wazed Putul, Sheikh Rehana, Tulip Rizwana Siddiq, Radwan Mujib Siddiq, and Azmina Siddiq, among others. Charges were framed against the accused in three of these cases on 31 July, initiating the trial.
