Purbachal plot scam: Trial begins, arrest warrant issued against Hasina, Rehana, and their children

Two Dhaka courts have indicted 27 people, including former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, her sister Sheikh Rehana, and their children, in six cases filed over alleged abuse of power and irregularities in acquiring plots from Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk) in Purbachal New Town Project, a major urban development project on the outskirts of Dhaka.

Hasina's son Sajeeb Wazed Joy, daughter Saima Wazed Putul, and Rehana's son Radwan Mujib Siddique Bobby and daughters Tulip Rizwana Siddique, Azmina Siddique Ruponti are among the accused.

Judge Md Robiul Alam of Dhaka Special Judge's Court-4 and Judge Md Abdullah Al Mamun of Dhaka Special Judge's Court-5 passed the orders after hearings on charge-framing in three cases at each court today (31 July).

The courts also ordered arrest warrants against the accused as they are currently absconding, said Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Public Prosecutor Mir Ahmed Ali Salam.

Judge Md Abdullah Al Mamun fixed 11 August to start witness deposition in three cases. The three cases heard by him include one where 12 people, including Hasina, are named as accused, another where 17 individuals including Joy were accused, and another case where 18 including Saima have been named as accused, respectively.

Judge Md Robiul Alam also fixed 13 August to start deposition in three cases, said the ACC prosecutor. According to court sources, 17 people including Sheikh Rehana, Tulip Rizwana Siddique, Sheikh Hasina were accused in one case, 18 including Azmina Siddique Ruponti, Radwan Mujib Siddique Bobby, Sheikh Hasina, were accused in another and 18 including Radwan Mujib Siddique Bobby, Sheikh Hasina have been named as accused in another case.

On 20 July, the Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court directed that the six cases be forwarded, with three assigned to Dhaka Special Judge's Court-4 and three to Dhaka Special Judge's Court-5, for trial.

The accused include former secretary for housing and public works Shahid Ullah Khandaker, former additional secretary (Administration) Kazi Washi Uddin, former administrative officer Saiful Islam Sarkar, former senior assistant secretary Purabi Golder, former Rajuk chairman Anisur Rahman Miah, former member (Estate and Land) Mohammad Khurshid Alam, former member (Administration and Finance) Kabir Al Asad, former member (Development Control) Tanmoy Das, member (Estate and Land) Nurul Islam, former member (Planning) Mohammad Nasir Uddin, former member Shamsuddin Ahmed Chowdhury, former director (Estate and Land-2) Sheikh Shahinul Islam, former deputy directors Hafizur Rahman and Habibur Rahman, and former state minister Sharif Ahmed and Sheikh Hasina's former private secretary Salahuddin.

The ACC filed the six cases in January this year over alleged irregularities in Rajuk's plot allocation.

Chargesheets have been filed in court in all the cases recently.