Dhaka: A court here today recorded the depositions of 10 prosecution witnesses against ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina and 46 others in three separate plot scam cases of the Purbachal new town project. Judge of the Special Court-5 of Dhaka, Mohammad Abdullah Al Mamun, recorded the depositions in connection with the three cases filed under the anti-corruption act, said Public Prosecutor (PP) of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), Mir Ahmmed Ali Salam.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the court has scheduled the next hearing for September 30 to continue recording depositions from additional witnesses. Among those who testified today, three prosecution witnesses gave depositions in the case against 12 individuals, including Sheikh Hasina. Another four prosecution witnesses provided statements concerning the case implicating 17 people, including Sheikh Hasina and her son, Sajib Wazed Joy. The final three witnesses gave depositions against 18 defendants, including Sheikh Hasina and her daughter, Saima Wazed Putul.
The prosecution witnesses who submitted their statements were Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Zakir Hussain, senior officer of the Sonali Bank, Ganobhaban branch Riyad Mahmud, personal officer of the Chief Adviser's office Mohammad Osman Gani, and accounts assistant of Dhaka South City Corporation Nayem Hossain Khan.
ACC Deputy Director Salah Uddin filed a case on January 14 against eight individuals, including former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, on charges of misusing power to acquire a 10-katha plot in the Purbachal new town project. ACC Assistant Director Afnan Jannat Keya later submitted a charge sheet against 12 people, including Sheikh Hasina, on March 10.
Similarly, ACC Assistant Director SM Rashedul Hassan filed another case on January 14 against 15 people, including Sheikh Hasina, for allocating a 10-katha plot for her son, Sajib Wazed Joy, through abuse of power. A charge sheet against 17 individuals was submitted on March 10 following an investigation.
In a related case, ACC Assistant Director Afnan Janna Keya filed charges on January 12 against 16 people, including Sheikh Hasina and her daughter Saima Wazed Putul, for the allocation of a 10-katha plot for her daughter. The charge sheet, implicating 18 individuals, was submitted on March 10.
Other officials implicated in these cases include former state minister for housing and public works ministry Sharif Ahmed, former secretaries of the public works ministry Kazi Wasi Uddin and Shahid Ullah Khandkar, former Rajdhani Unnayan Katripokkhha (RAJUK) Anisur Rahman Miah, senior assistant secretary of the housing and public works ministry Purabi Golder, former members of Rajuk Shafi ul-Haque, Khurshid Alam, Mohammad Nasir Uddin, and several others, including administrative and RAJUK officials.
The same court previously framed charges against the accused on July 31 in connection with these cases.