Rajuk plot scam: Verdict in 3 cases against Hasina, family tomorrow
Despite already possessing residential properties, Sheikh Hasina allegedly influenced Rajuk officials to unlawfully secure a 10-katha plot in the Purbachal New Town project without submitting any formal application
A Dhaka court will deliver its verdict tomorrow (27 November) in three separate corruption cases filed against former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy, her daughter Saima Wazed Putul, and 20 others over alleged irregularities in Rajuk plot allocation.
Judge Md Abdullah Al Mamun of the Dhaka Special Judge Court-5 will announce the verdict. This will be the first ruling in a corruption case against Sheikh Hasina.
The court set the date after concluding arguments from both prosecution and defence on 23 November. During the hearing, ACC prosecutor Khan Md Mainul Hasan (Lipon) sought life imprisonment—the maximum penalty—for all accused in the three cases.
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Former Rajuk member Khurshid Alam (Estate and Land), the only accused currently under arrest, has been represented by advocate Md Shahinur Islam, who expressed confidence that his client would be acquitted. Many other accused remain absconding and were unable to appoint lawyers. Although the charge sheets list 47 names in total, the number of individual accused stands at 23, as several were named across multiple cases.
The court completed recording testimonies of witnesses in the three cases on 17 November. On 31 July, Judge Md Abdullah Al Mamun framed charges against the accused and ordered the trial to begin.
According to the charge sheets, Sheikh Hasina, with dishonest intent, concealed information about properties owned by her and other family members within areas under Rajuk's jurisdiction.
Despite already possessing residential properties, she allegedly influenced Rajuk officials to unlawfully secure a 10-katha plot in the Purbachal New Town project without submitting any formal application.
The plot was later registered under her family's ownership and kept under their occupation, amounting to misappropriation of government land.
In the three cases, Sheikh Hasina and former senior assistant secretary Purabi Goldar are among 12 accused in one case; Hasina and Sajeeb Wazed Joy are among 17 accused in another; and Hasina and Saima Wazed Putul are among 18 accused in the third.
On 20 July, the Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge Court directed Special Judge Courts 4 and 5 to proceed with trials in six cases—three assigned to each court.
The ACC filed these six cases in January, naming Sheikh Hasina, her sister Sheikh Rehana, Rehana's daughter Tulip Rizwana Siddiq, her son Radwan Mujib Siddiq, her daughter Azmira Siddiq, and several others.
According to the case documents, Sheikh Hasina and her family allegedly abused state power during her tenure as prime minister to unlawfully secure six plots on Road 203 in Sector 27 of the Purbachal project, despite not being eligible.
Notably, on 17 November, the International Crimes Tribunal sentenced former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal—who served in Sheikh Hasina's cabinet—to death in a crimes against humanity case.
