Purbachal plot scam: Hasina gets 10 years, British MP Tulip 4 in 2 more cases
Tulip’s brother Bobby and sister Azmina sentenced to 7 years' imprisonment each.
A Dhaka court today (2 February) sentenced ousted former prime minister Sheikh Hasina to 10 years' imprisonment, and her niece and British MP Tulip Siddiq, to four years in jail in two cases over the allocation of two Purbachal plots under Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk) through unfair means.
Judge Robiul Alam of Dhaka Special Judge Court-4 handed down the judgment, said Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) prosecutor Khan Md Moinul Hasan.
In one of the cases, the court sentenced Tulip's sister Azmina Siddiq, and brother Radwan Mujib Siddiq, daughter and son of Sheikh Hasina's younger sister Sheikh Rehana, to seven years' imprisonment each.
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The court fined the four convicts Tk1 lakh each in each of the cases; in default, they must suffer six more months' imprisonment. It also cancelled the allotment of the two 10-katha plots allotted to Azmina and Radwan.
Earlier, on 13 January this year, the court fixed 2 February to deliver judgment in a case against 18 people, including Sheikh Hasina, and others, after concluding arguments from both sides.
In this case, Sheikh Hasina was sentenced to five years' imprisonment, Tulip to two years, and Azmina to seven years.
The court also sentenced former Rajuk administrative officer Md Saiful Islam Sarkar, former additional secretaries Wali Ullah and Kazi Wasi Uddin, former Rajuk chairman Md Anisur Rahman Miah, former members Tanmay Das, Mohammad Nasir Uddin and Major (retd) Shamsuddin Ahmed Chowdhury, former directors Nurul Islam and Qamrul Islam, former assistant director Mazharul Islam, former deputy director Naeb Ali Sharif, former senior assistant secretary Purabi Goldar, former personal secretary-1 to the ousted prime minister Mohammad Salahuddin, and former state minister for Housing and Public Works Sharif Ahmed to five years' imprisonment each and fined Tk1 lakh each.
Former Rajuk member Mohammad Khurshid Alam was sentenced to one year's imprisonment and fined Tk1 lakh in his presence, as he has been in jail since his arrest in the case.
Earlier, on 5 January, the court completed the recording of testimonies in the case, while a total of 31 witnesses testified.
On 13 January last year, the ACC filed the case and submitted the charge sheet against the accused on 10 March of the same year.
On the other hand, on 18 January of the current year, the same court set 2 February to hand down a verdict in another case against 18 people, including Sheikh Hasina, and Sheikh Rehana's son and daughters.
In that case, today, the court convicted and sentenced Sheikh Hasina to five years' imprisonment, Radwan to seven years, and Tulip to two years.
Former Rajuk officials Md Saiful Islam Sarkar, Purabi Goldar, Wali Ullah, Kazi Wasi Uddin, Shahid Ullah Khandaker, Md Anisur Rahman Miah, Tanmay Das, Mohammad Nasir Uddin, Major (retd) Shamsuddin Ahmed Chowdhury, Fariya Sultana, Mazharul Islam, Naeb Ali Sharif, Sheikh Shahinul Islam, Mohammad Salahuddin, and former state minister Sharif Ahmed were sentenced to five years' imprisonment each and fined Tk1 lakh each.
Besides, former Rajuk member Khurshid Alam was sentenced to one year's imprisonment and fined Tk1 lakh in the case.
A total of 28 witnesses testified, while the court framed charges on 31 July last year.
