Rajuk plot graft: 7 testify in 3 separate cases against Hasina, Joy and Putul
Since the accused were absconding, arrest warrants were issued for them
Seven people gave testimony against deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina, her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy, daughter Saima Wazed Putul and other accused today (26 August), the second day of witness testimony, in three separate cases filed over alleged corruption in plot allocations by the Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk).
Their testimonies were recorded before Judge Md Abdullah Al Mamun of Dhaka's Special Judge Court-5.
Since the accused remain absconding, they were not questioned.
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The witnesses were Rajuk Deputy Director Md Mahbubur Rahman; assistant directors Ashim Shil and Ullas Chowdhury; Ministry of Housing and Public Works Administrative Officer Akhtar Jahan; ACC Assistant Director Dhiraj Chandra Barman; Ministry of Housing and Public Works Office Assistant Shafiqul Islam; and ACC Assistant Director Saurav Das.
Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Prosecutor Khan Md Moinul Hasan confirmed the information, saying that six witnesses testified in two cases against Hasina and Putul, while five testified in Joy's case.
The next hearing has been scheduled for 2 September.
On 11 August, the plaintiffs in the three cases gave testimony on the first day of witness testimony.
Earlier, on 31 July, the same court framed charges in the cases and ordered the trials to begin.
Since the accused were absconding, arrest warrants were issued for them.
In the three cases, 12 people including Hasina, 17 including Joy and 18 including Putul have been indicted, respectively.
On July 20, the Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge Court ordered that six cases – three each – be sent for trial to Special Judge Court-4 and Special Judge Court-5.
Other accused in the cases include Sheikh Rehana, her daughters Tulip Siddiq and Azmina Siddiq Ruponti, son Radwan Mujib Siddiq Bobby, former Housing and Public Works Ministry secretary Shahid Ullah Khandaker, former Rajuk chairman Anisur Rahman Miah, former state minister Sharif Ahmed, and the prime minister's former principal secretary Salauddin.
The ACC filed six separate cases in January over allegations of corruption in plot allocations.
