Arrest warrants have been issued against deposed former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, her daughter Saima Wazed Putul, and 16 others in a case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) over alleged corruption in plot allocation by Rajuk.
On Thursday, Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Zakir Hossain Galib accepted the charge sheet submitted by the ACC.
As the accused were absconding, the court issued arrest warrants against them.
The other accused against whom arrest warrants have been issued are: Administrative Officer of the Ministry of Housing and Public Works Md Saiful Islam Sarkar; Senior Assistant Secretary Purabi Goldar; Additional Secretary Kazi Wasi Uddin; Secretary Md Shahid Ullah Khandaker; former PA to the Rajuk Chairman Md Anichur Rahman Miah; former Rajuk member Mohammad Khurshid Alam; Kabir Al Asad; Tanmoy Das; Mohammad Nasir Uddin; Major (Engr.) Shamsuddin Ahmed Chowdhury (Retd.); Md Nurul Islam; Director Sheikh Shahinul Islam; Deputy Director Md Hafizur Rahman; Habibur Rahman; Mohammad Salah Uddin; and Sharif Ahmed.
The last two were named as accused based on the investigation.
ACC Assistant Director Aminul Islam from the prosecution division confirmed the information. He said: “The court has accepted the charge sheet against 18 accused. As they are absconding, the court has issued arrest warrants against them. The date of submission of the report regarding the execution of the arrest warrants has been set for May 4.”
On January 12, ACC Assistant Director Afnan Jannat Keya filed the case.
According to the First Information Report (FIR), despite owning a house or flat or having housing facilities in Dhaka city under Rajuk’s jurisdiction in Dhanmondi residential area for herself and her family members, Saima Wazed Putul concealed this information.
She unlawfully obtained allocation of a plot in the Purbachal New Town Housing Project, violating laws, rules, policies, and the legal procedures. It is alleged that Saima Wazed Putul abused the power of her mother Sheikh Hasina, who held the highest office of the government and was a public servant at the time.
By abusing power and despite not being legally entitled or eligible for allocation, the accused allegedly acted in collusion to illegally benefit themselves and others. A plot in Sector 27, Road 203, Plot 17 of the Purbachal Housing Project was allocated in the name of Saima Wazed Putul.
She received the plot with physical possession and full registration. Through fraudulent and illegal transactions of undue benefits, criminal breach of trust, and illegal favoritism, the accused collectively committed offenses punishable under the Penal Code and the Anti-Corruption Act.
Following the investigation, on March 10, Afnan Jannat Keya submitted the charge sheet to the court against 18 individuals, including Sheikh Hasina and Putul, along with two additional accused identified during the investigation.
