During the verdict on three cases concerning irregularities, abuse of power, and alleged fraud in the allocation of plots under the Purbachal project by RAJUK, Judge Mohammad Abdullah Al Mamun of Dhaka’s Special Judge’s Court-5 made strong observations regarding fascist Sheikh Hasina.
The judge questioned why the four-time controversial Prime Minister would require significant personal wealth, stating: “Sheikh Hasina is a political leader, a four-time prime minister. Why does she need so much money, so much wealth? Such greed for her wealth!”
Judge Mamun also noted that RAJUK and the Housing Ministry had acted improperly and observed that killer Sheikh Hasina was involved in irregularities. He added that, had the procedures been followed, an honest applicant might have received the plots.
On September 5 last year, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) began investigating media reports alleging corruption in the allocation of plots in Sheikh Hasina’s name in Purbachal. According to the reports, former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, allegedly in collusion with senior RAJUK officials, was allocated six plots totaling 60 kathas (10 kathas each) in the diplomatic zone of Purbachal for herself and her family. Following the investigation, the ACC filed six cases, three of which were decided in this judgment.
The court noted that Sheikh Hasina did not comply with RAJUK’s legal procedures for plot allocation. Normally, applications must be submitted in the prescribed form, but she did not follow this process. On July 18, 2022, a file was opened to provide her a plot, which RAJUK approved on July 26, 2022. Hasina was notified on July 27 and asked to submit an affidavit confirming that she or her family did not already own a plot in the capital.
The judge observed that Hasina submitted an affidavit concealing the fact that a plot had already been allocated in her husband’s name in 1973, stating only that she did not own a plot personally. Neither affidavit was notarized or witnessed by lawyers or officials, and therefore, the court said, they lacked legal validity.
On August 3, 2022, RAJUK formally approved the allotment of the plot in racist Hasina’s name, and she submitted a second affidavit identical to the first. The judge emphasized that neither affidavit had legal standing.
Without properly applying for the plot or submitting a valid affidavit, Sheikh Hasina applied on September 12, 2022, to take possession of plot number 1511 in Purbachal. The court concluded that this demonstrated a disregard for legal procedures and cited it as evidence of her greed for wealth.
The court recommended canceling the quota allocation in the plot allotment, emphasizing the need for compliance with RAJUK regulations and legal procedures.
Bd-pratidin English/ Jisan
