DHAKA – Ousted Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and 99 other individuals have been indicted by two separate courts on charges of irregularities in the allocation of plots within a major housing project. The charges, stemming from six cases filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), were framed on Thursday.
Two separate Dhaka Special Judge Courts presided over the proceedings. Dhaka Special Judge Court-4 Judge Rabiul Alam framed charges in three cases, naming Hasina alongside family members including her sister Sheikh Rehana, and others. The court has set August 13 for the start of witness testimony and has issued arrest warrants for the accused, who are currently at large.
In a separate session, Dhaka Special Judge Court-5 Judge Mohammad Abdullah Al Mamun framed charges in the remaining three cases. These cases also list Hasina as an accused, along with her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy and daughter Saima Wazed Putul, and others. Arrest warrants were also issued in these cases, and the court has scheduled August 11 to begin recording testimonies.
According to ACC public prosecutor Mir Ahmed Ali Salam, the courts issued the warrants because the accused failed to appear despite being summoned. The ACC had filed the six cases in January, and investigation officers submitted the chargesheets in March.
The charges are related to alleged irregularities in the allocation of plots in the Rajuk Purbachal New Town Project. This is part of a series of legal actions against Hasina, who was ousted from power on August 5 last year following mass student-led protests that forced her to flee the country.
