A Dhaka court has instructed authorities to publish newspaper advertisements summoning former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy, daughter Saima Wazed Putul, sister Sheikh Rehana, and 19 others to appear in court in connection with a series of corruption cases involving fraudulent plot allocations under Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha`s (Rajuk) Purbachal New Town Project.
The order was issued on July 1 by Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Md Zakir Hossain Galib during a hearing concerning five of six corruption cases filed earlier this year. The court also directed the authorities to submit a compliance report by July 20.
According to court proceedings, 23 individuals named in the five cases are currently absconding.
The prosecution requested that public notices be issued to ensure the accused are informed and summoned properly.
In response, the court ordered Bangladesh Government Press (BG Press) to publish the required summons in national newspapers.
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) had initially filed six separate cases in January over irregularities in Rajuk’s plot allocation process.
One of the cases, filed on January 14 by ACC Deputy Director Salahuddin, accused Sheikh Hasina and eight others of abusing their official positions to secure a 10-katha government plot in Purbachal.
Following further investigation, ACC Assistant Director Afnan Jannat Keya submitted a charge sheet on March 10, adding 12 more individuals to the list of accused in that particular case.
On June 17, the court had already ordered the publication of a notice against the 13 accused in that case, including Hasina.
With charge sheets now submitted in all six cases and arrest warrants issued for the absconding individuals, the court’s latest order aims to ensure the remaining accused are publicly notified to appear before the court to face the charges.
The charges stem from allegations of abuse of power and collusion in securing government plots unlawfully, raising significant questions regarding accountability and the misuse of public resources.
