A Dhaka court on Tuesday ordered the publication of a gazette notification summoning former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and 11 others to appear in a case over the alleged misuse of power to obtain a 10-katha government plot in the Purbachal New Town Project.
Judge Md Zakir Hossain Galib of the Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judges Court issued the directive and set July 1 as the deadline for the submission of a follow-up report.
Among the accused are former state minister for housing Sharif Ahmed, former senior assistant secretary Purabi Goldar, ex-RAJUK chairman Anisur Rahman Mia, and former RAJUK members Shafiul Haque, Khurshid Alam and Nasir Uddin. Others named include Major (Engr) Shamsuddin Ahmed Chowdhury, Nayeb Ali Sharif, Saiful Islam Sarkar, Kazi Wasif Uddin and Shahid Ullah Khandaker.
Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Prosecutor Mir Ahmed Ali Salam said the court was scheduled to hear six corruption cases related to illegal plot allocations. Police failed to submit arrest reports in five of them. In one case, police confirmed that Sheikh Hasina and 11 others were absconding, prompting the court to approve a gazette notification for their appearance.
The ACC initially filed the case on January 14 against Sheikh Hasina and seven others for allegedly abusing power to obtain the government plot. Following an investigation, ACC Assistant Director Afnan Jannat Keya submitted a charge sheet on March 10, naming 12 accused.
According to sources, the ACC lodged six cases in January over illegal plot allocations involving several members of Sheikh Hasina’s family. Those named include her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy, daughter Saima Wazed, sister Sheikh Rehana and Rehana’s children – UK MP Tulip Siddiq, Radwan Mujib Siddiq and Azmira Siddiq. Charge sheets have been filed, and arrest warrants issued, as all remain absconding.
bd-pratidin/GR
