Rajuk plot scam: Hearing of cases against Hasina, 46 others adjourned till 10 Nov 

A Dhaka court today adjourned until 10 November the hearings in three cases filed against 47 individuals, including ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina, her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy, and daughter Saima Wazed Putul, over alleged irregularities in Rajuk plot allocations.

Dhaka Special Judge Court-5 Judge Mohammad Abdullah Al Mamun passed the order after the defence failed to complete the cross-examination of investigation officers in two of the cases.

Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Prosecutor Mir Ahmed Ali Salam confirmed the matter. He said the day had been set for the cross-examination of the investigation officer in Sheikh Hasina's case, which has now been completed. Permission has also been granted to cross-examine the plaintiff in this case.

He added that the investigation officer was partially cross-examined in the case against accused Joy, while testimony could not be taken in the case against another accused Putul.

ACC Assistant Director Afnan Jannat Keya, the investigation officer in the case against 12 accused, including Hasina, and ACC Assistant Director SM Rashedul Hasan, the investigation officer in the case against 17 accused, including Hasina and Joy, were cross-examined by the defence today.

However, the cross-examinations could not be completed within the court session.

Afnan Jannat Keya, who is also investigating the case against 18 accused, including Hasina and Putul, was scheduled to testify in that case today but could not do so as proceedings in the other two cases continued throughout the day.

So far, a total of 79 prosecution witnesses have testified in the three cases.

Dhaka Special Judge Court-5 had framed charges in three of the six cases and issued arrest warrants against the accused on 31 July. On the same day, Dhaka Special Judge Court-4 framed charges in the remaining three cases.

Earlier on 20 July, Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Zakir Hossain Galib sent the cases to the trial courts after the accused failed to appear despite repeated court orders.

On 1 July, the court had ordered a gazette notification summoning 100 accused, including Sheikh Hasina, her sister Sheikh Rehana, and her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy.

The ACC lodged the six cases between 12 and 14 January 2025 and submitted charge sheets in all of them on 10 March.

According to case documents, ACC Deputy Director Md Salahuddin filed the first case on 14 January against eight accused, including Hasina, over the allocation of a 10-katha plot in Purbachal. A charge sheet was later submitted against 12 individuals in this case.

On the same day, ACC Assistant Director SM Rashedul Hasan filed a second case against 15 accused, including Hasina and Joy; the charge sheet later listed 17 accused.

On 13 January, Salahuddin filed another case against 15 people, including Hasina, Sheikh Rehana, Radwan Mujib, Tulip Siddiq, and Azmina Siddiq, with the charge sheet naming 17 accused.

Another case filed the same day accused 16 individuals, including Hasina, Tulip Siddiq, and Azmina Siddiq; the charge sheet listed 18 accused.

Additionally, a separate case was filed against Radwan Mujib and 15 others, with the charge sheet naming 18 accused.

On 12 January, ACC Assistant Director Afnan Jannat Keya filed a case against 16 accused, including Hasina and Saima Wazed Putul, with the charge sheet naming 18 accused.