Dhaka: Two courts in Dhaka have scheduled July 31 for hearings on charge framing in six cases involving 100 individuals, including former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, concerning alleged irregularities in the allocation of plots in the RAJUK Purbachal New Town Project.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, these cases will be heard by Dhaka Special Judge Court-4 and Dhaka Special Judge Court-5. One of the cases against 17 individuals, including Sheikh Hasina and Sheikh Rehana, and another involving Sheikh Hasina and Radwan Mujib Siddiq, will be under the jurisdiction of Dhaka Special Judge Court-4. Meanwhile, Dhaka Special Judge Court-5 will preside over a case against 12 people, including Sheikh Hasina, and two other cases involving 17 and 18 individuals, respectively, including Sheikh Hasina, Sajeeb Wazed Joy, and Saima Wazed Putul.
Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Zakir Hossain Galib had forwarded these cases to the Special Judge Court on July 20, declaring them ready for trial. This decision was made following the absence of the accused from court proceedings, which led to the publication of a gazette notification on July 1, summoning the 100 accused individuals, including Sheikh Hasina, her sister Sheikh Rehana, and her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy.
Previously, arrest warrants were issued against all 100 accused on May 25, with a deadline of June 17 for submitting a report on the execution of these warrants. The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) initiated the six cases between January 12 and January 14, 2025, with investigation officers filing charge sheets on March 10.
ACC Deputy Director Md Salahuddin filed one case on January 14 against eight individuals, including Sheikh Hasina, for the alleged abuse of power in allocating a 10-katha plot. The charge sheet was later expanded to include 12 accused. Another case filed by ACC Assistant Director SM Rashedul Hasan involved 15 individuals, including Sheikh Hasina and Sajeeb Wazed Joy, with a subsequent charge sheet against 17 people.
On January 13, 2025, ACC Deputy Director Md Salahuddin filed an additional case against 15 people, including Sheikh Hasina, Sheikh Rehana, and her family members, which later expanded to 17 accused. Further cases were filed involving Radwan Mujib Siddiq and others, with charge sheets submitted against additional accused parties.
ACC Assistant Director Afnan Jannat Keya also filed a case on January 12 against 16 individuals, including Sheikh Hasina and Saima Wazed Putul, which later included 18 accused in the charge sheet.