Investigative trial kicks off regarding the Purbachal land scam, with arrest warrants issued for Hasina, Rehana, and their respective offspring.
Sheikh Hasina, the former Prime Minister of Bangladesh, and several family members, including her sister Sheikh Rehana, son Sajeeb Wazed Joy, and daughter Saima Wazed Putul, have been indicted in six separate cases related to alleged abuse of power and irregularities in acquiring plots in the Purbachal New Town Project, Dhaka.
These indictments involve accusations of graft and irregularities in land allotment under the Purbachal project. A total of 27 to 28 people, including Hasina and her family, have been indicted across these six cases filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and handled by Dhaka courts.
The cases allege corruption and illegal acquisition of valuable land plots in Purbachal New Town, allegedly involving abuse of power during Hasina's tenure as prime minister. Judge Md Robiul Alam of Dhaka Special Judge's Court-4 and Judge Md Abdullah Al Mamun of Dhaka Special Judge's Court-5 passed the orders after hearings on charge-framing in three cases at each court on 31 July. Judge Md Robiul Alam has fixed 13 August to start deposition in three cases, while Judge Md Abdullah Al Mamun has fixed 11 August for witness deposition in three cases.
The accusations are part of wider legal and political actions against Hasina and her family following her ousting from office and exile. On 20 July, the Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court directed that the six cases be forwarded for trial. Arrest warrants have been issued against the accused persons who are currently absconding, according to Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Public Prosecutor Mir Ahmed Ali Salam.
These indictments are part of a significant legal challenge facing Sheikh Hasina and her relatives involving serious graft allegations centered on the Purbachal urban development project, which is a major government land development initiative in Dhaka. The cases were filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) in January this year over alleged irregularities in Rajuk's plot allocation in the Purbachal New Town Project. The trials have commenced, and the cases have been assigned to Dhaka Special Judge's Court-4 and Dhaka Special Judge's Court-5 for trial.
- The allegations against Sheikh Hasina and her family, including her indictment in six cases, are not just about politics but also involve policy-and-legislation, as they revolve around irregularities in land allotment during the Purbachal New Town Project, a major government project.
- The ongoing trials in the Dhaka Special Judge's Court-4 and Dhaka Special Judge's Court-5, which are part of a significant legal challenge, revolve around general-news topics such as corruption, illegal land acquisition, and abuse of power in the Purbachal urban development project.
