Arrest warrants issued against Hasina, Putul, 16 others in Purbachal graft case

A Dhaka court has issued arrest warrants against deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina and her daughter Saima Wazed Putul, along with 16 other individuals, in a case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) over a corruption case related to the allocation of plots by RAJUK in the Purbachal area.

Judge Zakir Hossain Galib issued the arrest warrants on Thursday.

This is the first case filed against Sheikh Hasina and her family members by a commission formed during the interim government period.

The other 16 accused include: Ministry of Housing and Public Works Administrative Officer Md Saiful Islam Sarkar, Senior Assistant Secretary Purabi Goldar, Additional Secretary (Administration) Kazi Wasi Uddin, Secretary Md Shahid Ullah Khandaker, former chairman of RAJUK (Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha, or Capital Development Authority) Md Anisur Rahman Miah, former RAJUK members (estate and land) Md Khurshid Alam, member (administration and finance) Kabir Al Asad, member (development control) Tanmay Das, former member (planning) Md Nasir Uddin, retired former member (development) Maj (engineer) Shamsuddin Ahmed Chowdhury, former member (estate and land) Md Nurul Islam, Deputy Director (Estate and Land) Md Hafizur Rahman, Deputy Director (Estate and Land) Habibur Rahman, and Director (Estate and Land) Sheikh Shahinul Islam.

The case was filed after evidence of irregularities and corruption in the allocation of a 60-katha plot for Sheikh Hasina’s family in Dhaka’s Purbachal was found through the abuse of power.

The case alleged that the accused, through collusion, abused their power to allocate and accept six 10-katha plots, which is considered a punishable corruption crime. Further legal action will be taken against those involved in the plot allocation process.