Six more prosecution witnesses on Tuesday testified in the Dhaka Special Judge Court-5 in three corruption cases against deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina, her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy, her daughter Saima Wazed Putul and several other government officials.
The cases were filed over alleged corruption in allotting Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha鈥檚 land plots in the capital鈥檚 Purbachal New Town project area.
Judge Md Abdullah Al Mamun recorded the witnesses鈥� testimonies and fixed September 17 as the next date to hear the cases, ACC public prosecutor Mir Ahmed Ali Salam said.
The six witnesses are Sonali Bank senior principal officer (Ganabhaban branch) Gautam Kumar Sikder, Sonali Bank principal officer (Ganabhaban branch) Md Shariful Islam, Tax Circle senior assistant Md Lutfar Rahman, Tax Circle computer operator Md Rezaul Haque, Tax Circle notice server Md Abu Taher, and office assistant Delwar Hossain.
All the accused are still at large and are facing the case in absentia.
The trial in the cases began on August 11 when the plaintiffs of the cases testified in the court. Later on August 26, five witnesses testified in the cases.
Hasina is accused in all three cases, and Sajeeb and Saima are accused in one case each.
One of these cases was lodged against 12 people, including Hasina, another against 17, including Hasina and her son Sajeeb, and the other case was lodged against 18 people, including Hasina and her daughter Saima.
On July 31, the court framed charges against Hasina, Sajeeb, Saima and other accused in the cases filed in January.
On the same day, judge Md Robiul Alam of Dhaka Special Judge Court-4 also framed charges in other three cases filed against Hasina and several other people.
One of these cases was lodged against 17 people, including Hasina, her sister Sheikh Rehana and Rehana鈥檚 daughter Tulip Siddiq, another case was lodged against 18 people, including Azmina Siddiq, Tulip, and Hasina, and the other case was lodged against 18 people, including Rehana鈥檚 son Radwan Mujib Siddiq Bobby, Tulip, and Hasina.
On March 10, the ACC approved charge sheets against 29 people, including Hasina, in the six cases.
The other accused are housing and public works ministry鈥檚 former state minister Sharif Ahmed, Hasina鈥檚 former personal secretary Salahuddin, the ministry鈥檚 former secretary Mohammad Shahid Ullah Khandakar, additional secretary Kazi Wachi Uddin, additional secretary Md Waliullah, administrative officer Mohammad Saiful Islam Sarker, and senior assistant secretary Purbhi Goldar, Rajuk鈥檚 former chair Mohammad Anisur Rahman Miah, former member Mohammad Khurshed Alam, member Kabir Al Asad, member Tanmoy Das, member Mohammad Nurul Islam, former member Mohammad Nasir Uddin, retired member Major Samsuddin Ahmad Chowdhury, former member Shofiul Haque, director Sheikh Shahinul Islam, director Kamrul Islam, deputy directors Mohammad Hafizur Rahman and Habibur Rahman, former deputy director Nayeb Ali Sharif, and assistant directors Faria Sultana and Mazharul Islam.
In January, the ACC filed the six cases with its integrated district office in Dhaka-1 against Hasina, Rehana and their five children over irregularities in the allotment of six plots on Road 203 in the diplomatic zone of Sector 27 of the Purbachal New Town project.
