Six witnesses testify in Purbachal graft cases against Hasina, family

Six more prosecution witnesses today testified in three graft
cases filed against 23 people, including deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina,
her daughter Saima Wazed Putul, and son Sajeeb Wazed Joy.
The
witnesses are Delwar Hossain, Lutfor Rahman, Rezaul Haque, Abu Taher, Gautam
Kumar Sikdar, and Shoriful Islam.
Judge Mohammad Abdullah Al Mamun of Dhaka's Special Judge's
Court-5 recorded their statements between 11:38am and 1:03pm, said
Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Public Prosecutor Mir Ahmed Ali Salam.
After
recording statements, the court also set September 17 for next hearings in
three cases in which Hasina has been made common accused.
According
to the prosecution, the six testified in the three separate graft cases — one
against 12 accused, another against 18, including Putul; and a third against
17, including Joy.
Earlier,
10 other witnesses had given their statements in the same cases.
The ACC
lodged six separate cases between January 12 and 14 over alleged irregularities
in the allocation of plots under the Purbachal New Town project.
It accused
Hasina of colluding with senior Rajuk officials to unlawfully secure six
10-katha plots in Sector 27's diplomatic zone for herself, Joy, Putul, Sheikh
Rehana, her children Radwan Mujib Siddiq Bobby and Azmina Siddiq, despite their
ineligibility.
On March
25, the ACC filed charge sheets in all six cases with the Metropolitan Senior
Special Judge's Court in Dhaka, naming Hasina as a common accused. The
commission listed all accused as fugitives.
The court
later issued arrest warrants on April 10, 13, and 15 against Hasina, Rehana,
Joy, Putul, Radwan, Azmina, and British MP Tulip Siddiq, among others, after
taking cognisance of the charges.
On July 1,
authorities were ordered to publish gazette notifications summoning 29
individuals to appear before the court.
Charges
were formally framed against them on July 31.
















