Purbachal plot scam: Verdict today in 2 cases against 22 including Hasina, Tulip, Radwan
ACC public prosecutor hopes maximum penalties will be imposed in both cases.
Verdicts are scheduled in two separate corruption cases today (2 February) against 22 individuals, including former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, her sister Sheikh Rehana's daughters Tulip Rizwana Siddiq and Azmina Siddiq, and her son Radwan Mujib Siddiq, over allegations of irregularities in plot allocations by the Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk) in Purbachal.
The verdicts will be delivered by Judge Robiul Alam of Dhaka's Special Judge Court-4. Although the charge sheets list 36 defendants across the two cases, the total number of individuals is 22.
Tarikul Islam, public prosecutor at the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), confirmed that all evidence and witness testimony have been presented against the defendants.
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He expressed hope that the maximum penalties would be imposed in both cases.
According to case details, the first case was filed on 13 January last year by ACC Assistant Director Afnan Jannat Keya against Azmina Siddiq.
She is accused of obtaining a 10-katha plot in the Purbachal New Town project through abuse of power and irregularities.
The charge sheet in this case also names 18 individuals including Tulip and Hasina.
On the same day, ACC Assistant Director SM Rashedul Hasan filed a second case against Radwan Mujib Siddiq over similar irregularities in obtaining a 10-katha plot in Purbachal.
This charge sheet names 18 people including Hasina and Tulip.
Other notable defendants include former state minister for housing and public works Sharif Ahmed, former secretary of the Ministry of Housing and Public Works Kazi Washi Uddin, former secretary Md Shahid Ulla Khandakar, former principal secretary to the prime minister-1 Md Salah Uddin, former Rajuk chairman Md Anisur Rahman Minya, former Rajuk director Sheikh Shahinul Islam, and several officials from the Ministry of Housing and Public Works and Rajuk.
Court sources said that final arguments concluded on 13 January in Azmina Siddiq's case and on 18 January in Radwan Mujib Siddiq's case. The court subsequently scheduled 2 February for the verdict.
The cases allege that the defendants colluded to hide information about their ownership of houses or flats in the city and unlawfully obtained 10-katha plots in Sector 27, Road 203 of the Purbachal New Town project.
Hasina is accused of abusing her authority to influence officials and approve these allocations in violation of laws and regulations.
The acts are alleged to constitute offences under various sections of the Penal Code and Section 5(2) of the Anti-Corruption Act.
Earlier, in four separate Purbachal plot corruption cases, Sheikh Hasina was sentenced to a total of 26 years in prison, while other defendants received varying prison terms.
