Dhaka: The government has issued a gazette notification requiring 100 individuals, including the ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina, her sister Sheikh Rehana, and her son Sajib Wazed Joy, to appear before the court for trial. The document, signed by Senior Special Judge of Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Court Zakir Hossain Galib, was released on July 3, summoning the accused in connection with six cases related to the Purbachal plot scam.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the Public Prosecutor of the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC), Mir Ahmed Ali Salam, stated that the trial court instructed the relevant authorities on July 1 to publish the gazette. The notice demands that the accused appear before the court on July 20. Should they fail to comply, the court will commence the trial against them after the designated date.
ACC Deputy Director Salah Uddin filed a case on January 14 against eight individuals, including Sheikh Hasina, alleging that she misused power and engaged in corruption to allot a 10-katha plot in the Purbachal New Town Project. Subsequently, ACC Assistant Director Afnan Jannat Keya, as the case’s Investigation Officer, submitted a charge sheet against 12 people, including Sheikh Hasina, on March 10.
In another case filed by the ACC on January 14, 15 people, including Sheikh Hasina and her son Sajib Wazed Joy, were accused. A charge sheet against 17 people, including the duo, was submitted on March 10. Similarly, the ACC filed a case on January 13 against 15 individuals, including Sheikh Rehana and Tulip Rizwana Siddique, related to another 10-katha plot in the same project. A charge sheet against 17 people was filed on March 10.
Further cases filed on January 13 involved 16 individuals, including Azmina Siddique, Tulip Siddique, and Sheikh Hasina, with the charge sheet against 18 people submitted on March 10. Additional charges were filed against 16 people, including Radwan Mujib Siddique and Saima Wazed Putul, on January 13 and 12, respectively, with charge sheets filed on March 10 for both cases.
In total, 16 individuals have been listed as prosecution witnesses across these cases.