Dhaka: Six more prosecution witnesses today testified in three cases filed against 53 individuals, including ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her sister Sheikh Rehana, regarding irregularities in the allocation of plots in the RAJUK Purbachal New Town Project.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the witnesses included Mohammad Osman Gani, the personal officer of the Chief Adviser's Office; Uzzal Hossain, a motor cleaner at the same office; sub-registrars Zahidur Rahman and Rafikul Islam; income tax lawyer Hanif Dihidar; and income tax office staffer Abdur Rahim. Among these, Osman Gani, Uzzal, and Zahidur testified in the case against 17 individuals, including Sheikh Hasina and her sister Sheikh Rehana.
Further testimonies were provided by Osman Gani, Zahidur Rahman, Hanif Dihidar, and Abdur Rahim in the case against 18 people, including Sheikh Hasina and her niece Azmina Siddique. Additionally, Osman Gani, Uzzal Hossain, Rafikul Islam, and Zahidur Rahman testified in another case against 18 people, including Sheikh Hasina and her nephew Radwan Mujib Siddique.
So far, a total of 65 witnesses have testified in the case at Dhaka Special Judge Court-4. At the conclusion of today's proceedings, Judge Robiul Alam adjourned the hearing until November 9. Meanwhile, proceedings for three more similar cases against 47 individuals, including Sheikh Hasina, her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy, and her daughter Saima Wazed Putul, are ongoing at the Dhaka Special Judge Court-5.
The Dhaka Special Judge Court-5 framed charges on July 31 in these three cases and issued arrest warrants as the accused remain absconding. The Dhaka Special Judge Court-4 framed charges in the other three cases on the same day.
Previously, on July 20, Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Zakir Hossain Galib forwarded the matters to the trial courts, highlighting that the accused failed to appear despite court orders. On July 1, the court had ordered a gazette notification summoning 100 accused, including Sheikh Hasina, Sheikh Rehana, and Sajeeb Wazed Joy.
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) lodged the six cases between January 12 and 14, 2025, and filed charge sheets on March 10. Case details reveal that on January 14, ACC Deputy Director Md Salahuddin filed a case against eight individuals, including Sheikh Hasina, over a 10-katha Purbachal plot scam, with a charge sheet later submitted against 12.
On the same day, ACC Assistant Director SM Rashedul Hasan filed another case against 15 people, including Hasina and Joy, with the charge sheet naming 17. On January 13, Salahuddin filed another case against 15 individuals, including Hasina, Rehana, Radwan Mujib, Tulip Siddiq, and Azmina Siddiq, with the charge sheet naming 17.
Another case was filed that day accusing 16 people, including Hasina, Tulip, and Azmina, with the charge sheet naming 18. Yet another case was filed against Radwan Mujib and 15 others, with the charge sheet naming 18. On January 12, ACC Assistant Director Afnan Jannat Keya filed a case against 16 individuals, including Hasina and Saima Wazed Putul, with the charge sheet naming 18.