Dhaka: Six additional witnesses have presented their testimonies in the ongoing cases against 47 individuals, including former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy, and daughter Saima Wazed Putul. These cases pertain to alleged irregularities in the allocation of plots within the RAJUK Purbachal New Town Project.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the witnesses who testified at the Dhaka Special Judge Court-5 include Sonali Bank Senior Principal Officer Gautam Kumar Sikder, Sonali Bank Principal Officer Md Shariful Islam, Tax Circle Senior Assistant Md Lutfar Rahman, Tax Circle Computer Operator Md Rezaul Haque, Tax Circle Notice Server Md Abu Taher, and Office Assistant Delwar Hossain. Following the examination of these witnesses, Judge Mohammad Abdullah Al Mamun adjourned the hearings until September 17, as informed by Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) public prosecutor Mir Ahmed Ali Salam.
Previously, on August 26, seven witnesses related to the seizure list had also testified. These individuals comprised ACC deputy directors Dhiraj Chandra Barman and Mahbubar Rahman, ACC assistant director Ashim Shil, Ullash Chowdhury, Sourav Das, Ministry of Housing and Public Works Administrative Officer Akter Jahan, and office assistant Shafikul Islam.
The plaintiffs in the three cases, ACC Deputy Director Salahuddin, Assistant Directors Afnan Jannat Keya, and SM Rashedul Hasan, had earlier presented their depositions on August 11. The court had framed charges against the accused on July 31 and issued arrest warrants as the individuals were absent.
In parallel, the Dhaka Special Judge Court-4 on the same date framed charges in three additional cases related to the matter, scheduling August 13 for the commencement of testimonies and issuing arrest warrants against the defendants. Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Zakir Hossain Galib moved the cases to the Special Judge Court on July 20, as they were prepared for trial, following non-compliance by the accused to appear in court.
On July 1, the court had called for a gazette notification summoning 100 individuals, including Sheikh Hasina and her family members, in relation to the cases. The ACC launched the six cases between January 12 and January 14, 2025, with charge sheets filed on March 10.
Specifically, ACC Deputy Director Md Salahuddin filed a case against eight individuals, including Sheikh Hasina, on January 14 for misusing power to allocate a 10-katha plot in the Purbachal New Town Project. ACC Assistant Director Afnan Jannat Keya later filed a charge sheet against 12 accused. ACC Assistant Director SM Rashedul Hasan filed another case against 15 people, with the charge sheet naming 17 individuals.
Further, on January 13, 2025, ACC Deputy Director Md Salahuddin filed an additional case against 15 people, including Sheikh Hasina and her family members, alleging abuse of power for plot allotment. The charge sheet was eventually filed against 17 individuals. Another case filed on the same day implicated Radwan Mujib Siddiq and 15 others, with the charge sheet later including 18 names.
Lastly, on January 12, ACC Assistant Director Afnan Jannat Keya filed a case against 16 people, including Sheikh Hasina and Saima Wazed Putul, with a charge sheet eventually filed against 18 individuals.