- Dhaka court issues arrest warrants for Hasina, her daughter Saima Wazed, and 16 others.
- Charges stem from alleged irregularities in Rajuk’s Purbachal New Town project plot allocations.
- Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed the case in January 2025.
- Court sets May 4 for report on execution of arrest warrants.
- Defendants include high-ranking officials from Rajuk and the Ministry of Housing and Public Works.
On Thursday, April 10, 2025, Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Zakir Hossain Galib issued arrest warrants against former Prime Minister Hasina, her daughter Saima Wazed, and 16 others. The warrants are related to alleged irregularities in the allocation of plots within the Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk) Purbachal New Town project.
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed the case on January 12, 2025, accusing the defendants of abusing power to secure plot allocations unlawfully. The court accepted the chargesheet submitted by the ACC and scheduled May 4 for a report on the execution of the arrest warrants.
ACC Points to High-Level Misconduct
The ACC claims Saima Wazed hid property ownership in Rajuk areas to get a new plot. They say Hasina used her power as Prime Minister to pressure officials. This helped her daughter get Plot No. 17 in Sector 27, skipping the required fees.
Now, arrest warrants target several key government officials involved in this plot deal. Among them are Md Saiful Islam Sarkar, Purbi Goldar, and Kazi Wasi Uddin. Md Shahid Ullah Khandaker and Md Anisur Rahman Miah also face charges.
More names include former Rajuk members like Khurshid Alam and Kabir Al Asad. Retired Major Shamsuddin Ahmed Chowdhury and Director Sheikh Shahinul Islam are also listed. Four deputy directors are accused of helping in the illegal allocation.
Court Proceedings and Next Steps
Aminul Islam, the Assistant Director of the ACC’s Prosecution Division, stated that the court has instructed authorities to submit a report on the execution of arrest warrants by May 4. This comes after the ACC submitted its chargesheet on March 10, 2025, following a detailed investigation into the alleged corruption.
The case revolves around the allocation of a 10-katha plot in the Purbachal New Town project. According to the ACC, Saima Wazed, despite already owning property within Rajuk’s jurisdiction, secured the plot with undue influence from her mother, Hasina, who was the Prime Minister at the time.
Consequently, the court issued arrest warrants for Hasina, Saima Wazed, and 16 others. This marks an important step in addressing alleged corruption in government plot allocations. The forthcoming report will provide further insights into the execution of these warrants and the ongoing progress of the case.