Purbachal Plot ScamHasina jailed for 21 years in three cases

A Dhaka court on Thursday sentenced the ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina to 21 years’ imprisonment in three separate cases related to Purbachal plot scam.

The judge of Dhaka Special Judge Court-5 Mohammad Abdullah Al Mamun delivered the verdict at around 11:30am.

The court also sentenced Hasina's son Sajeeb Wazed Joy to five years' imprisonment and her daughter Saima Wazed Putul to the same term.

The court, however, acquitted Saiful Islam Sarkar, an administrative officer of the Ministry of Housing and Public Works. The remaining accused received varying terms of imprisonment.

Mohammad Khurshid Alam, a former member of RAJUK and the only accused arrested in the cases, was present in the courtroom during the verdict. Lawyers representing the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) were also in attendance.

According to the case documents, the accused are charged under Section 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947, where the punishment is seven years’ imprisonment or a fine, or both.

The other charges was under Sections 109, 161, 163, 164, 165A, 201, 217, 218, 409 and 420 of the Penal Code. The highest punishment under these sections is under Section 409, which carries a sentence of life imprisonment, or imprisonment of either description for a term extending up to ten years, and a fine.

According to the charge sheet, former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and her family abused their power while holding the highest position in government and allegedly secured six plots—each measuring 10 kathas—in the Purbachal New Town Project despite not being eligible for allocation.

As per RAJUK regulations, persons with no plot, house or vehicle in Dhaka are eligible to apply for plot allocation. However, the charge sheet states that Sheikh Hasina and her family submitted a false affidavit to RAJUK, claiming that they did not own any land or property in Dhaka, and obtained a total of 60 kathas of land by misusing power, which constitutes a criminal offence.

Meanwhile, Judge Rabiul Alam of Dhaka Special Judge Court-4 on Sunday (23 November) set 25 November for presenting arguments in another three identical cases filed against 17 individuals, including Sheikh Hasina’s sister Sheikh Rehana, her son Radwan Mujib Siddiq Bobby, and daughters Tulip Rizwana Siddiq and Azmina Siddiq Ruponti.

The cases were filed by the ACC between 12 and 14 January this year, accusing members of the Sheikh family and several government and RAJUK officials of irregularities in plot allocations under the Purbachal New Town Project. Charge sheets were submitted on 10 March.

Earlier, on 1 July, the court ordered a gazette notification summoning around 100 accused persons across the six cases. On 31 July, charges were formally framed and arrest warrants issued for the absconding accused.

The other accused include former Public Works Department (PWD) secretary Shahid Ullah Khandaker, former additional secretary Kazi Wasi Uddin, administrative officer Saiful Islam Sarkar, senior assistant secretary Purabi Goldar, former state minister Sharif Ahmed and former principal secretary to the prime minister Md Salah Uddin.

Also included are former RAJUK chairman Anisur Rahman Mia, former RAJUK members Mohammad Khurshid Alam, Kabir Al Asad, Tanmoy Das, Mohammad Nasir Uddin, Nurul Islam, Shamsuddin Ahmed Chowdhury, Sheikh Shahinul Islam, and former deputy directors Hafizur Rahman and Habibur Rahman.