Hasina Sentenced to 5 Years, Rehana 7, Tulip 2 in Purbachal Plot Scam
A Dhaka court today convicted and sentenced ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina to five years' imprisonment, her sister Sheikh Rehana to seven years, and Rehana's daughter Tulip Siddique to two years for Purbachal plot allocation scam. Judge Robiul Alam of the Dhaka Special Judge Court-4 pronounced the judgment. The court additionally fined all three Taka one lakh each, ordering them to serve six more months behind bars in default. Earlier, the case was lodged against a total of 17 people over irregularities in the allocation of a 10-katha plot in the RAJUK Purbachal New Town Project.
The court also convicted and sentenced 14 other accused - former state minister for Housing and Public Works Sharif Ahmed; former senior assistant secretary of the Ministry of Housing and Public Works Purabi Goldar; former additional secretary Wali Ullah; former additional secretary (Administration) Kazi Wasi Uddin; administrative officer Md Saiful Islam Sarkar; former RAJUK chairman Md Anisur Rahman Miah; former RAJUK members Mohammad Nasir Uddin and Major (Retd) Shamsuddin Ahmed Chowdhury; Tanmay Das; Mohammad Khurshid Alam; Md Nurul Islam; former RAJUK assistant director Mazharul Islam; former RAJUK deputy director (Estate and Land-3) Naeb Ali Sharif; and former personal secretary-1 to the ousted prime minister Mohammad Salahuddin - to five years' imprisonment each.
They were also fined Taka one lakh each, with six months' additional imprisonment in default. The court began its proceedings at 11:30 am and proceeded to read out the verdict immediately. Earlier, on November 25, the court had fixed today for pronouncing the judgment after both the prosecution and defence concluded their arguments. Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Deputy Director Md Salahuddin filed the case on January 13, 2025, against 15 people, including Sheikh Hasina, Sheikh Rehana and Tulip Siddique. The investigation officer and ACC Assistant Director Afnan Jannat Keya submitted a charge sheet against 17 accused on March 10.
Dhaka Special Judge Court-4 framed charges in this case along with two others on July 31, while Dhaka Special Judge Court-5 on the same day framed charges in three other identical cases. Earlier on November 27, Dhaka Special Judge Court-5 convicted and sentenced Sheikh Hasina to 21 years' imprisonment in three identical cases. It also sentenced her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy and daughter Saima Wazed Putul to five years' imprisonment each in the respective cases filed against them over plot allocations. The court had found 22 out of the total 23 accused guilty in those three cases and sentenced them to varying jail terms.
