Purbachal Plot Graft: Verdict Due Today Against 22

(From left) Sheikh Hasina, Tulip Rizwana Siddiq and Radwan Mujib Siddiq.

Verdicts are set to be delivered today (2 February) in two separate corruption cases involving 22 individuals, including former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, over alleged irregularities in plot allocations at the Purbachal New Town project.

The verdicts will be announced by Judge Robiul Alam of Dhaka’s Special Judge Court-4. Although the two charge sheets name 36 accused in total, the number of individuals involved stands at 22 due to overlapping defendants.

Among those facing verdicts are Sheikh Rehana’s daughters Tulip Rizwana Siddiq and Azmina Siddiq, and Sheikh Hasina’s son Radwan Mujib Siddiq. The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) alleges abuse of power and manipulation of allocation procedures by the accused.

ACC public prosecutor Tarikul Islam said all evidence and witness testimonies have been placed before the court and expressed hope that maximum punishment would be handed down in both cases.

According to case records, the first case was filed on 13 January last year against Azmina Siddiq, accusing her of unlawfully obtaining a 10-katha plot in the Purbachal project through misuse of influence and procedural violations. The charge sheet in this case names 18 accused, including Sheikh Hasina and Tulip Rizwana Siddiq.

A second case, filed the same day against Radwan Mujib Siddiq, involves similar allegations over the acquisition of another 10-katha plot in the same project. This charge sheet also names 18 accused, including Sheikh Hasina and Tulip.

Other defendants include former state minister for housing and public works Sharif Ahmed; former secretaries Kazi Washi Uddin and Md Shahid Ulla Khandakar; former principal secretary to the prime minister Md Salah Uddin; former Rajuk chairman Md Anisur Rahman Minya; former Rajuk director Sheikh Shahinul Islam; and several senior officials from the Ministry of Housing and Public Works and Rajuk.

Court sources said final arguments concluded on 13 January in the Azmina Siddiq case and on 18 January in the Radwan Mujib Siddiq case, after which the court fixed 2 February for delivering the verdicts.

The cases allege that the accused concealed information about existing ownership of houses or flats in the city and colluded to illegally obtain 10-katha plots in Sector 27, Road 203 of the Purbachal New Town project. Sheikh Hasina is accused of abusing her authority to influence officials and approve the allocations in violation of prevailing laws and regulations.

The alleged acts are said to constitute offences under various sections of the Penal Code and Section 5(2) of the Anti-Corruption Act. Earlier, in four separate Purbachal plot corruption cases, Sheikh Hasina was sentenced to a total of 26 years in prison, while other defendants received varying jail terms.