Verdict in Purbachal plot corruption case of Hasina, Tulip and Ajmina on February 2

The court has held a hearing on the arguments in a case filed against ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, her sister Sheikh Rehana's daughters Tulip Rizwana Siddique and Azmina Siddique, including 18 others, for allegedly illegally allocating a 10-katha plot from the Rajdhani Unnayan Kartik (RAJUK) in the Purbachal New Town project. After the hearing, the court has fixed February 2 for the verdict in the case.

The verdict was announced on Tuesday (January 13) after the hearing of the arguments in the case in the court of Judge Rabiul Alam of Dhaka's Special Judge-4 Court. Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Public Prosecutor Hafizur Rahman confirmed the matter to Jago News. On January 5, the same court declared the testimony in the case closed. On that day, the investigating officer and ACC assistant director Afnan Jannat Keya testified in the court. Later, Shahin Ur Rahman, the lawyer of accused Mohammad Khurshid Alam, questioned the investigating officer. After the interrogation, the court declared the testimony closed.

A total of 31 witnesses, including the investigating officer, testified in court in the case. Later, a defense hearing was held on January 8. According to the allegations in the case, ACC Assistant Director Afnan Jannat Keya filed a case against Azmina Siddique on January 13 last year on charges of abusing power and irregularities in obtaining a 10-katha government plot for the Purbachal New City Project. 16 people, including Sheikh Hasina and Tulip Siddique, were accused in that case.

After the investigation, a chargesheet was filed in court on March 10 last year against a total of 18 people, including two more.

The other accused are Saiful Islam Sarkar, administrative officer of the Ministry of National Housing and Public Works, Senior Assistant Secretary Purabi Golder, Additional Secretary Oliullah, Secretary Kazi Washi Uddin, personal assistant to the former chairman of RAJUK Anisur Rahman Miah, Tanmoy Das, Mohammad Nasir Uddin, Major (Eng.) Shamsuddin Ahmed Chowdhury (retd.), former director of RAJUK Nurul Islam, assistant director Mazharul Islam, director Kamrul Islam and deputy director Nayeb Ali Sharif. The two accused who were later added to the case are former Prime Minister's Private Secretary-1 Mohammad Salah Uddin and former State Minister for Housing and Public Works Sharif Ahmed.