Dhaka: Seven seizure list witnesses testified today in three ongoing cases involving 47 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, the witnesses included Anti-Corruption Commission (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. Of these, Barman, Rahman, Shil, Chowdhury, Jahan, and Islam provided testimony in the case against 12 individuals, including Sheikh Hasina.
The testimony continued with Rahman, Shil, Chowdhury, Jahan, and Islam also submitting depositions in the case against 17 individuals, including Hasina and her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy. In another case involving 18 individuals, including Hasina and her daughter Saima Wazed Putul, Rahman, Das, Shil, Chowdhury, Jahan, and Islam testified.
Judge Mohammad Abdullah Al Mamun concluded today's proceedings by adjourning the hearing of the three cases until September 2. On August 11, ACC Deputy Director Salahuddin and Assistant Directors Afnan Jannat Keya and SM Rashedul Hasan had previously submitted their depositions at Dhaka Special Judge Court-5.
Charges in the cases were framed by the court on July 31, which also issued arrest warrants for the accused, who remain at large. Additionally, Dhaka Special Judge Court-4 framed charges in three related cases and scheduled the recording of testimonies to begin on August 13, also issuing arrest warrants for the accused.
Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Zakir Hossain Galib had earlier forwarded the cases for trial on July 20, following the accused's failure to comply with court orders. On July 1, the court ordered a gazette notification to summon 100 individuals, including Hasina, her sister Sheikh Rehana, and her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy.
The ACC initiated the six cases between January 12 and January 14, 2025, with charge sheets filed on March 10. Among the cases, ACC Deputy Director Md Salahuddin filed one against eight individuals, including Hasina, on January 14 for alleged abuse of power in allocating a plot in the Purbachal New Town Project, with the charge sheet later expanded to include 12 accused.
Another case was filed against 15 individuals, including Hasina and her son, by ACC Assistant Director SM Rashedul Hasan, with the charge sheet eventually listing 17 accused. A separate case filed by Salahuddin on January 13 involved 15 individuals, including Hasina and her relatives, with the charge sheet later adjusted to 17.
The commission also filed a case against 16 individuals, including Hasina, on the same day, later expanding the charge sheet to 18. Another case was filed against Radwan Mujib Siddiq and others on January 13, with the charge sheet ultimately including 18 accused.
Finally, ACC Assistant Director Afnan Jannat Keya filed a case against 16 individuals, including Hasina and Saima Wazed Putul, on January 12, with the charge sheet later expanded to 18 accused.