Five new witnesses today testified in three corruption cases filed against 47 people, including ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy, and daughter Saima Wazed Putul, over alleged irregularities in the allocation of plots in the RAJUK Purbachal New Town Project.

The witnesses are RAJUK directors Tanjilur Rahman and Al Mamun Miah, typist Zakir Hossain, and Kaliganj sub-registrars Mahmudur Rahman and Zajidur Rahman.

They testified before Dhaka Special Judge Court-5, which is hearing the cases. After recording their depositions, Judge Mohammad Abdullah Al Mamun adjourned the proceedings until October 29.

According to Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) public prosecutor Mir Ahammed Ali, the five witnesses first testified in the case against 12 accused, including Sheikh Hasina, and later in two more cases involving 18 and 17 accused respectively — among them Hasina, Saima Wazed Putul, and Sajeeb Wazed Joy.

The Dhaka Special Judge Court-5 on July 31 framed charges in the three cases and issued arrest warrants against the accused. On the same day, another court — Dhaka Special Judge Court-4 — framed charges in three other identical cases.

The ACC lodged the six cases between January 12 and 14, 2025, and submitted charge sheets on March 10. The allegations involve irregularities in allocating Purbachal plots to influential individuals, including members of Sheikh Hasina’s family.

The court earlier issued a gazette notice summoning 100 accused, including Sheikh Hasina, Sheikh Rehana, and Sajeeb Wazed Joy, after repeated failure to appear.

MN/