A Dhaka court has ordered the transfer of six corruption cases filed against ousted former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and 22 others over alleged abuse of power in securing government plots under the RAJUK Purbachal New Town Project.
On Sunday (July 20), the court was scheduled to review the government gazette notice regarding the absconding status of the accused. During the hearing, ACC Prosecutor Mir Ahmed Ali Salam informed Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Md Zakir Hossain Galib that the gazette confirming the accused’s failure to appear had been officially published. The court then ordered the transfer of the cases to special judge courts for formal trial.
Salam further stated that the court had previously instructed publication of gazettes for the six cases. As the Bangladesh Government Press (BG Press) has now published them, the court will now initiate proceedings in one of Dhaka’s 11 special judge courts. The gazette notice stated that arrest warrants were already issued against the accused and that they are believed to be deliberately evading arrest and trial. According to Section 6(13) of the Criminal Law Amendment Act, 1958, the trial will proceed in absentia since the accused failed to appear before the court by the scheduled date.
The individuals named in the gazette include Sajeeb Wazed Joy, son of Sheikh Hasina; Saima Wazed Putul, daughter of Sheikh Hasina; Sheikh Rehana, sister of Sheikh Hasina; Tulip Rizwana Siddiq, Rehana’s daughter and British MP; Azmina Siddiq Ruponti, daughter of Sheikh Rehana; Radwan Mujib Siddiq Bobby, son of Sheikh Rehana; Shahid Ullah Khandaker, Secretary, Ministry of Housing and Public Works; Kazi Wasi Uddin; Additional Secretary; Saiful Islam Sarkar, Administrative Officer; Purabi Goldar, Senior Assistant Secretary; Anisur Rahman Miah, former Chairman of RAJUK; Multiple former and current RAJUK members and officials Sharif Ahmed, former state minister; Salahuddin, former Private Secretary to the Prime Minister.
The ACC filed six separate cases in January, alleging corruption in the allotment of residential plots by the Capital Development Authority (RAJUK). The charge sheets were recently submitted to court, and arrest warrants have been issued against the absconding accused.
