False propaganda regarding Purbachal plots a conspiracy of Yunus government: Joy

Corruption charges in relation to the allocation of plots in Purbachal by the Sheikh Hasina government are a conspiracy forged by the interim government led by Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, the former prime minister's son Sajeeb Wazed Joy has alleged.

"The so-called 'Purbachal Plot Scandal' is yet another conspiracy of the illegal and unconstitutional Yunus government, aimed at diverting public attention from Bangladesh's severe governance failures," Sajeeb said in a Facebook post today (12 March).

He said, "Whenever this illegitimate Yunus government faces intense public backlash due to its administrative failures, it resorts to spreading false and ridiculous allegations against my mother and family members through Yunus or his associates in foreign media. This time is no different."

"At a time when Bangladesh is witnessing a sharp rise in violent crimes such as rape, extortion, and robbery, the Yunus government has brought baseless allegations of corruption regarding the allocation of residential plots in the Purbachal project against my mother, myself, and six of my family members to divert public focus."

Purbachal land forgery: ACC approves 6 charge sheets against Hasina, family

He claimed there has been no corruption in the allocation of Purbachal project plots.

The allocation was carried out in full compliance with all relevant laws and regulations, he added.

He termed the allegations as merely another attempt by the "Yunus government" to tarnish the Sheikh family's reputation and added that no evidence has been presented regarding the matter.

'To execute this conspiracy, the Yunus government is using the newly restructured Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), formed in December 2024, where BNP-affiliated individuals have been appointed. The new ACC chairman Mohammad Abdul Momen was appointed on the BNP's recommendation as he previously served as [the party chairperson] Khaleda Zia's personal secretary," Joy said.

He noted that Momen was dismissed from his position as the MD and CEO of Biman Bangladesh Airlines by the Awami League government on corruption charges. He was later made an OSD (Officer on Special Duty) and forcibly sent into retirement.

Therefore, expecting fair and impartial investigations from such a biased and corrupt individual is unrealistic, he added.

"Such politically motivated false accusations are nothing new to the Bangladeshi nation. The people know that this illegitimate government is resorting to false propaganda to cover up its failures," said Sajeeb Wazed adding, no such conspiracy can ever suppress the truth.

On 10 March, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) approved six charge sheets in separate cases against ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina, her sister Sheikh Rehana, their family members, and others in relation to the allocation of plots totalling 60 katha in Purbachal through irregularities and abuse of power.

The other accused in the cases include former state minister Sharif Ahmed, former private secretary to the PM Salauddin, and 14 officials from the housing and public works ministry.

This is the first charge sheet against the Hasina family and others involving the previous regime since the fall of the Awami League government amid a student-led mass uprising in August last year.