Testimonies of 3 begin in graft cases over Rajuk plot allocation involving Hasina, Rehana, Tulip

On the second day of hearings in the corruption cases over irregularities in Rajuk plot allocations against Sheikh Hasina, Sheikh Rehana, Tulip Rizwana Siddiq and others, the testimonies of three Rajuk officials have begun.

The testimonies recording started at 11am before Dhaka Special Judge Court-4, presided over by Judge Md Rabiul Alam.

The witnesses are Mahbubur Rahman, deputy director of Rajuk; Asim Shil, assistant director; and Ullash Chowdhury, assistant director, Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), confirmed by prosecutor Khan Md Moinul Hasan (Lipon).

Earlier, on 13 August, the complainants in the three cases testified before the court on the first day of hearings.

On 31 July, the court framed charges in the cases and ordered trial proceedings to begin. As the accused were absconding at the time of charge framing, arrest warrants were issued against them.

In the three separate cases, Sheikh Rehana, Tulip Siddiq, and Sheikh Hasina, among others, have been indicted - 17 accused in one case, 18 in another including Azmina Siddiq Rupanti, and Radwan Mujib Siddiq Bobby, and another 18 in the third case.

On 20 July, Dhaka's Special Judge Court-4 and Special Judge Court-5 accepted six cases in total for trial proceedings.

The other accused include Housing and Public Works Secretary Shahid Ullah Khandaker, Additional Secretary (Administration) Kazi Wasi Uddin, Administrative Officer Saiful Islam Sarkar, Senior Assistant Secretary Purabi Goldar, former Rajuk chairman Anisur Rahman Miah, former estate and land member Mohammad Khurshid Alam, administration and finance member Kabir Al Asad, development control member Tanmoy Das, estate and land member Nurul Islam, former planning member Mohammad Nasir Uddin, former member Shamsuddin Ahmed Chowdhury, director (estate and land-2) Sheikh Shahinul Islam, deputy directors Hafizur Rahman and Habibur Rahman, former state minister Sharif Ahmed, and former principal secretary to the prime minister Salauddin.

The Anti-Corruption Commission filed six separate cases in January over allegations of corruption in RAJUK's plot allocations. The accused include Sheikh Hasina, her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy, daughter Saima Wazed Putul, sister Sheikh Rehana, Rehana's daughter Tulip Rizwana Siddiq, son Bobby, and daughter Rupanti, along with several government officials and RAJUK executives.

Charge sheets have recently been submitted in all six cases, and since the accused remain absconding, arrest warrants are in effect against them.