A Dhaka court on Tuesday completed the second day of testimonies in three separate corruption cases filed over irregularities in RAJUK plot allocations, involving former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, her son Sajib Wazed Joy, daughter Saima Wazed Putul, and several others.
Judge Md Abdullah Al Mamun of Dhaka’s Special Judge Court-5 recorded the depositions of seven witnesses. As the accused remain absconding, no cross-examination took place.
The witnesses included Md Mahbubur Rahman, Deputy Director of RAJUK; Asim Shil and Ullas Chowdhury, Assistant Directors of RAJUK; Akhtar Jahan, Administrative Officer of the Ministry of Housing and Public Works; Dhiraj Chandra Barman and Saurav Das, Assistant Directors of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC); and Shafiqul Islam, Office Assistant at the Ministry of Housing and Public Works.
ACC Prosecutor Khan Md Moinul Hasan Lipon confirmed that seven witnesses testified across the three cases. Of these, six gave statements in two cases against Sheikh Hasina and Putul, while five testified in the case against Joy. The next hearing is scheduled for September 2.
Earlier, on August 11, the complainants testified on the opening day of hearings. On July 31, the same court framed charges and ordered the trial to begin, also issuing arrest warrants as the accused remained fugitives. In the three cases, 12 people including Sheikh Hasina, 17 including Sajib Wazed Joy, and 18 including Saima Wazed Putul were indicted.
The Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge’s Court had earlier, on July 20, transferred six separate cases three each to Special Judge Courts 4 and 5 for trial.
Other accused include Sheikh Rehana, her daughter Tulip Siddiq (UK MP), son Radwan Mujib Siddiq Bobby, daughter Azmira Siddiq Ruponti, senior officials of the Housing and Public Works Ministry, and former RAJUK chairman and members.
The ACC filed the six graft cases in January this year, alleging corruption in RAJUK plot allocations involving Sheikh Hasina, her family members, and others.
