Dhaka: Nine more prosecution witnesses today gave depositions in three graft cases for allocating three plots in Purbachal area to ousted former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, her sister Sheikh Rehana, Sheikh Rehana’s daughters Tulip Rizwana Siddiq and Azmina Siddiq, her son Rdwan Mujib Siddiq, and several others. Judge of the Special Judge Court-4 of Dhaka, Md Rabiul Alam, recorded the depositions and fixed October 6 for recording the depositions of other prosecution witnesses of the cases.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, four of the prosecution witnesses gave depositions in connection with a case filed against 17 people, including former prime minister Sheikh Hasina. These witnesses include Executive General Manager of Eastern Housing Ltd Mohammad Farhaduzzaman, its Operative Director Sheikh Shamsher Ali, Assistant Executive Himel Chandra Das, and Housing Ministry Administrative Officer Akter Jahan. They also provided testimonies in another plot scam case filed against 18 people, and Akter Jahan gave statements in connection with a third case filed against another set of 18 people.
Public Prosecutor of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), Mir Ahmmed Ali Salam, disclosed this information to BSS. ACC Deputy Director Salah Uddin filed one of the cases on January 13 against 15 people, including Sheikh Hasina and her sister Sheikh Rehana, for allocating a 10-katha plot at Purbachal New Town Project. On the same day, ACC Assistant Director Afnan Jannat Keya filed another case against 16 people, including Sheikh Hasina, Tulip Siddiq, and Azmina Siddiq, for the allocation of another plot in the same project. Additionally, ACC Assistant Director SM Rashedul Hassan lodged a third case on the same day against 16 people, including Sheikh Hasina, her nephew Radwan Mujib Siddiq, and niece Tulip Rizwana Siddiq, for taking allocation of another 10-katha plot in the same project.
On July 31, charges were framed in these cases, and arrest warrants were issued as the accused remained absconding.