A government gazette has been published summoning former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, her sister Sheikh Rehana, son Sajeeb Wazed Joy, and 97 others to appear in court in connection with six corruption cases involving alleged misuse of power in the allocation of 60 kathas of government land in the Purbachal New Town Project.
Signed on July 3 by Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Zakir Hossain Galib and issued by the Bangladesh Government Press (BG Press), the gazette states that arrest warrants have been issued and the accused are believed to be in hiding to avoid trial. The court, invoking Section 6(13) of the Criminal Law Amendment Act of 1958, has ordered them to appear before the court on the next scheduled date—July 20. Failure to do so will result in the cases proceeding in absentia.
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The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed the cases between January 12 and 14, naming Sheikh Hasina, Sheikh Rehana, Sajeeb Wazed Joy, Radwan Mujib Siddiq, Tulip Siddiq, Sheikh Putul, and Azmira Siddiq among the 100 accused.
ACC prosecutors Salahuddin (Deputy Director), Afnan Jannat Keya (Assistant Director), and S.M. Rashedul Hasan (Assistant Director) lodged the complaints. Following investigations, they submitted charge sheets on March 10.
Key breakdown of the cases:
- January 14: Salahuddin filed a case naming Sheikh Hasina and 7 others, later extended to 12 after investigation by Afnan Jannat Keya.
- January 14: Rashedul Hasan filed a case against Sheikh Hasina, Sajeeb Wazed, and 13 others, totaling 17 in the final charge sheet.
- January 13: Sheikh Rehana named as the lead accused in a case also involving Sheikh Hasina and Tulip Siddiq. Final list: 17 accused.
- January 13: Azmira Siddiq named lead accused alongside Sheikh Hasina and Tulip Siddiq. Final list: 18 accused.
- January 13: Radwan Mujib Siddiq, Tulip Siddiq, and Sheikh Hasina named in a separate case, ending with 18 accused.
- January 12: Afnan Jannat Keya filed a case against Sheikh Hasina, Putul, and 14 others—eventually expanded to 18.
The court’s decision to issue a gazette came on July 1, following continued absence of the accused despite warrants. ACC prosecutor Mir Ahmed Ali Salam confirmed the publication and court order to national news agency BSS.
The next hearing is scheduled for July 20, and if the accused fail to appear, the court has stated that proceedings will continue in their absence.
Source: TBS
