Twenty-eight individuals, including ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina, her sister Sheikh Rehana, her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy, and daughter Saima Wazed Putul, have been indicted in six corruption cases over alleged irregularities in plot allocation under the Purbachal New Town project.

The accused also include Rehana's son Radwan Mujib Siddiq Bobby, daughters British MP Tulip Siddiq and Azmina Siddiq, and several current and former officials of the Ministry of Housing and Public Works and Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk).

Dhaka Special Judge's Court-5, led by Judge Abdullah Al Mamun, framed charges in three of the cases, while Judge Md Rabiul Alam of Court-4 indicted the same group in the other three. All charges were framed in absentia as none of the accused appeared in court. The trial is set to begin on August 11.

Earlier, arrest warrants were issued on April 10, 13, and 15. On July 1, the court instructed the government to issue gazette notices summoning the accused. The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed the cases on January 12, 2025, and submitted charge sheets on March 25.

According to the ACC, Saima Wazed, the prime accused, allegedly concealed property ownership and, with the help of Hasina, influenced 14 public officials to secure a plot in Purbachal despite being ineligible. The charges state that six 10-katha plots in Sector-27’s diplomatic zone were unlawfully allotted to Hasina and her family.

The ACC also launched separate investigations in December 2024 into embezzlement worth Tk 80,000 crore and the alleged laundering of $300 million to the U.S. involving Hasina and her family.

MN/