Thirteen more prosecution witnesses on Sunday testified at Dhaka Special Judge Court-4 in three cases filed against 53 people, including ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her sister Sheikh Rehana over irregularities in the allocation of Rajuk plots.
The witnesses are - Ministry of Housing & Public Works Joint Secretary Zakirul Islam Khan, Agrani Bank PLC assistant general manager Laila Nur Begum, Rajuk computer operator Zakir Hossain, Rajuk official Tanjilur Rahman, sub-registrars Mahbubur Rahman and Sohel Rana, Chief Adviser’s Office director-2 Al Mamun Miah, Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Sefatullah, Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Hasibuzzaman, Dhaka Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Zakir Hossain, Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) constable Azharul Islam, one Gazi Sipon Islam and one Monir Hossain.
Of them, Zakirul Islam Khan, Rajuk computer operator Zakir Hossain, Tanjilur Rahman, Mahbubur Rahman, Sohel Rana, Al Mamun Miah, Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Sefatullah, and Dhaka Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Zakir Hossain testified in the case against 17, including Sheikh Hasina and her sister, Sheikh Rehana. The court, after examining them, adjourned the hearing of the case till 16 November.
Zakirul Islam Khan, Tanjilur Rahman, Rajuk computer operator Zakir Hossain, Azharul Islam, Al Mamun Miah, Gazi Sipon Islam and Dhaka Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Zakir Hossain testified in case 18, including Sheikh Hasina and her niece Azmina Siddique. The court later adjourned the hearing of the case till 23 November.
Monir Hossain, Laila Nur Begum, Al Mamun Miah, Rajuk computer operator Zakir Hossain, Zakirul Islam Khan, Tanjilur Rahman, and Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Hasibuzzaman testified in another case against 18, including Sheikh Hasina and her nephew Radwan Mujib Siddique. The court later adjourned the hearing of the case till 25 November.
Proceedings of three more identical cases against 47 people, including Sheikh Hasina, her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy and her daughter Saima Wazed Putul, are ongoing at Dhaka Special Judge Court-5.
Dhaka Special Judge Court-5 on 31 July framed charges in those three cases and issued arrest warrants as the accused remain absconding. On the same day, Dhaka Special Judge Court-4 framed charges in the other three cases filed in this connection.
Earlier, on 20 July, Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Zakir Hossain Galib forwarded the matters to the trial courts, noting the accused failed to appear despite court orders.
On 1 July, the court had ordered a gazette notification summoning 100 accused, including Sheikh Hasina, Sheikh Rehana and Sajeeb Wazed Joy.
The ACC lodged the six cases between 12 and 14 January 2025 and filed charge sheets on 10 March.
According to case details, on 14 January, ACC Deputy Director Md Salahuddin filed a case against eight, including Sheikh Hasina, over a 10-katha Purbachal plot scam. A charge sheet was later submitted against 12.
On the same day, ACC Assistant Director SM Rashedul Hasan filed another case against 15, including Hasina and Joy; the charge sheet named 17.
On 13 January, Salahuddin filed another case against 15, including Hasina, Rehana, Radwan Mujib, Tulip Siddiq, and Azmina Siddiq; the charge sheet named 17.
Another case filed that day accused 16, including Hasina, Tulip, and Azmina; the charge sheet named 18.
Yet another case was filed against Radwan Mujib and 15 others; the charge sheet named 18.
On 12 January, ACC Assistant Director Afnan Jannat Keya filed a case against 16, including Hasina and Saima Wazed Putul; the charge sheet named 18.
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