Verdict in another case against Hasina, Rehana, Tulip today

A Dhaka court is set to deliver the verdict today in another similar case against 17 individuals, including ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina, linked to alleged irregularities in plot allocations under the RAJUK Purbachal New Town Project.

On 15 November, Judge Robiul Alam of Dhaka Special Judge Court-4 fixed the verdict delivery date after concluding arguments in the case.

Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Prosecutor Mainul Hasan Lipon expressed the hope that the court will mete out the highest punishment to Sheikh Hasina.

The other accused in the case includes Hasina's sister Sheikh Rehana as the prime accused, Rehana's daughter Tulip Rizwana Siddiq, former state minister for housing and public works Sharif Ahmed, and several other government and Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha officials.

ACC Deputy Director Md Salahuddin filed the case on 13 January this year, and a charge sheet against 17 accused was submitted on 10 March. The court concluded the testimony phase on 18 November, during which 32 prosecution witnesses testified. Earlier on 27 November, Judge Mohammad Abdullah Al Mamun of Dhaka Special Judge Court-5 sentenced Hasina to 21 years’ imprisonment in three other identical cases.

The court also handed down prison terms to 20 other accused, including Hasina’s son Sajeeb Wazed Joy and daughter Saima Wazed Putul, after finding them guilty of illegally obtaining government plots.

The ACC filed six cases between 12 and 14 January this year, accusing members of the Sheikh family and several government and RAJUK officials of irregularities in allocating plots in the Purbachal New Town Project.

On 1 July, the court ordered a gazette notification summoning around 100 accused persons across the six cases. On 31 July, charges were formally framed and arrest warrants issued for those absconding.

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