Verdict in three RAJUK plot scam cases against Hasina, Joy, Putul due today

A Dhaka court is expected to deliver its verdict today in three cases against 47 individuals — including ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina, her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy, and daughter Saima Wazed Putul — over alleged irregularities in RAJUK plot allocations.

Mir Ahammed Salam, public prosecutor for the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), said he expects all the accused, including the former premier and her children, to be convicted and handed life sentences. He said the prosecution has proven the allegations through witness testimony and documentary evidence. “We are seeking the maximum punishment — life imprisonment — for all 47 accused,” Salam said.

Judge Mohammad Abdullah Al Mamun of Dhaka Special Judge Court-5 set today for the verdict on November 23, after both the prosecution and defence concluded their arguments.

On July 31, Dhaka Special Judge Court-5 framed charges in three of the six cases and issued arrest warrants for the accused. On the same day, Dhaka Special Judge Court-4 framed charges in the remaining three similar cases.

Earlier, on July 20, Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Zakir Hossain Galib transferred the cases to the trial courts, noting that the accused had repeatedly failed to appear despite summons. On July 1, the court issued a gazette notice summoning 100 accused, including Hasina, her sister Sheikh Rehana, and her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy.

The ACC filed the six cases between January 12 and 14, 2025, and submitted charge-sheets in all of them on March 10.

According to case documents, the first case—filed on January 14 by ACC Deputy Director Md Salahuddin—accused eight individuals, including Hasina, of irregularly allocating a 10-katha plot in Purbachal. The charge-sheet later named 12 accused.

That same day, ACC Assistant Director SM Rashedul Hasan filed a second case against 15 people, including Hasina and Joy, with the charge-sheet later listing 17.

On January 13, Salahuddin lodged another case against 15 people—including Hasina, Sheikh Rehana, Radwan Mujib, Tulip Siddiq, and Azmina Siddiq—which was later charge-sheeted with 17 accused.

Another case filed the same day accused 16 individuals, including Hasina, Tulip Siddiq, and Azmina Siddiq, with 18 eventually named in the charge-sheet.

A separate case targeted Radwan Mujib and 15 others, later expanded to 18 in the charge-sheet.

On January 12, ACC Assistant Director Afnan Jannat Keya filed a case against 16 people, including Hasina and Saima Wazed Putul, with the charge-sheet naming 18 accused.