Staff Correspondent, Dhaka
The plaintiffs of three cases filed against 47 people, including ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina, over irregularities in the allocation of plots in the Rajuk Purbachal New Town Project, have testified on Monday.
Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Deputy Director Salahuddin, Assistant Directors Afnan Jannat Keya and SM Rashedul Hasan, the investigation officers of the three cases, submitted their depositions at Dhaka Special Judge Court-5.
Judge Mohammad Abdullah Al Mamun, at the end of Monday's proceedings, adjourned the hearing of the three cases till August 26.
The court on July 31 framed charges in the cases. It also issued arrest warrants against the accused as they are still at large.
Apart from this court, Dhaka Special Judge Court-4 on the same day had framed charges in three more cases filed in this connection. It had fixed Wednesday for starting to record the testimonies in the cases and issued arrest warrants against the accused.
Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Zakir Hossain Galib on July 20 forwarded the matters to the Special Judge Court as the cases were ready for trial. The court passed the order as the accused refrained from appearing before the court in spite of its order in this connection.
Earlier on July 1, the court had ordered publication of a gazette notification summoning 100 people, including ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina, her sister Sheikh Rehana and her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy, in the cases.
The ACC filed the six cases from January 12 to January 14, 2025. The concerned investigation officers filed charge sheets on March 10.
ACC Deputy Director Md Salahuddin filed one case against eight, including Sheikh Hasina, on January 14 for abusing power in allocating a 10-katha plot in the Purbachal New Town Project. Investigation officer and ACC Assistant Director Afnan Jannat Keya on March 10 submitted the charge sheet against a total of 12 accused.
ACC Assistant Director SM Rashedul Hasan filed the other case against 15, including Sheikh Hasina and her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy, on the same day, in this connection. He submitted the charge sheet against 17 on March 10.
