A Dhaka court on Thursday delivered verdicts in three separate corruption cases filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy, daughter Saima Wazed Putul and several others over the alleged misuse of power to secure 30 kathas of government land in the Purbachal New Town Project.
In each case, Sheikh Hasina was awarded seven years of rigorous imprisonment, totalling 21 years. Other accused received varying prison terms.
In the second case, Sajeeb Wazed Joy was sentenced to five years of rigorous imprisonment and fined Tk 100,000.
In the third case, Saima Wazed Putul was sentenced to five years of rigorous imprisonment.
The verdicts were delivered by Judge Mohammad Abdullah Al Mamun of Dhaka Special Judge Court-5.
Across the three cases, there are 47 accused, with 23 individuals named once duplicates are removed. The first case includes 12 accused including Sheikh Hasina; the second includes 17 accused including Hasina and Joy; and the third includes 18 accused including Hasina and Putul.
Former RAJUK administrative officer Md Saiful Islam Sarkar was acquitted in all three cases. Former RAJUK member (Estate and Land) Mohammad Khurshid Alam received one year of rigorous imprisonment in each case. He is the only accused who surrendered and has been in custody; the remaining accused have been absconding and therefore could not present arguments or claim innocence.
The ACC filed six cases in total on 14 January this year, accusing Sheikh Hasina, seven members of her family and several government officials of abusing state power to obtain Purbachal plots. Today’s verdicts cover three of those cases; the remaining three judgments are scheduled for 1 December. In those upcoming cases, other members of the Sheikh family include Sheikh Rehana’s daughter and British MP Tulip Rizwana Siddiq, her son Radwan Mujib Siddiq and her other daughter Azmira Siddiq.
Other accused across the six cases include senior officials from the Ministry of Housing and Public Works, former RAJUK chairmen and members, engineers, directors and a former state minister.
Following filing of the cases, the ACC appointed Afnaan Jannat Keya as the investigation officer. On 10 March, she submitted charge sheets against 23 accused across the three cases, including Sheikh Hasina, Joy, Putul and former RAJUK member Khurshid Alam. Charges were framed on 31 July.
After charges were framed, Sheikh Hasina, her family members and the other government officials did not appear before the court and have since been treated as absconders. Arrest warrants were issued against them. Khurshid Alam surrendered on 29 October and has since attended all hearings.
The court recorded statements from 79 witnesses across the three cases. The prosecution presented documents and testimony to establish corruption. Defence lawyers cross-examined the investigation officer extensively and argued that Khurshid Alam acted only on orders as a government official. They labelled the cases as harassing and politically motivated.
Arguments concluded between 17 and 20 November. The prosecution sought maximum punishment, while the defence insisted the charges were false.
According to the charge sheets, Sheikh Hasina, while serving as prime minister, misused her power to secure three adjacent plots of 10 kathas each in Sector 27 of Purbachal for herself and her family, influencing officials and obtaining the allocations despite not being eligible.
The court’s verdicts bring a legal conclusion to these three Purbachal land corruption cases, while judgment in the remaining three cases is expected on 1 December.
