Arrest warrant against Hasina, Joy, 27 others

A Dhaka court issued arrest warrants against ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina, her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy and 27 others in two separate cases filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) over scam in allocating plots in Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (RAJUK) Purbachal New Town Project.

Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Md Zakir Hossain Galib passed the orders Tuesday (April 15), accepting the formal charges filed in the cases.

The court also set April 28 for submitting reports on the execution of the orders to arrest the accused in the cases, Aminul Islam, assistant director of the ACC’s Prosecution Division, said.

ACC Deputy Director Md Salahuddin filed one case against eight, including Sheikh Hasina, on January 14 for abusing power in allocating a 10-katha plot in the Purbachal New Town Project. Investigation officer and ACC Assistant Director Afnan Jannat Keya on March 10 filed the charge sheet against a total of 12.

Apart from Sheikh Hasina, the other 11 accused in the case were Ministry of Housing and Public Works Senior Assistant Secretary Purobi Goldar, Administrative Officer Md Saiful Islam Sarkar, former RAJUK chairman’s personal assistant Md Anisur Rahman Miah, former RAJUK members Shafi Ul Haque, Mohammad Khurshid Alam, Mohammad Nasir Uddin, Major (retd) Samsuddin Ahmed Chowdhury, Deputy Director Nayeb Ali Sharif, Secretaries Qazi Wasi Uddin and Shahid Ullah Khandaker, and former state minister Sharif Ahmed.

Meanwhile, ACC Assistant Director SM Rashedul Hasan filed the other case against 15, including Sheikh Hasina and her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy, in this connection. He filed the charge sheet against 17 on March 10.

Apart from Sheikh Hasina and Joy, the other 15 accused in the case were Ministry of Housing and Public Works Senior Assistant Secretary Purobi Goldar, Administrative officer Md Saiful Islam Sarkar, Secretaries Qazi Wasi Uddin and Shahid Ullah Khandaker, former RAJUK chairman’s personal assistant Md Anisur Rahman Miah, former RAJUK members Mohammad Khurshid Alam, Tanmay Das, Mohammad Nasir Uddin, Major (retd) Samsuddin Ahmed Chowdhury, and Md Nurul Islam, Assistant Director Mazharul Islam, Director Qamrul Islam, Deputy Director Nayeb Ali Sharif, then prime minister’s personal secretary-1 Mohammad Salahuddin and former state minister Sharif Ahmed.
 
The IO in his charge sheet accused Joy of not filing any application in the designated form of the RAJUK.