A Dhaka court today adjourned the hearing in three cases filed against 53 people, including former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her sister Sheikh Rehana, over alleged irregularities in the allocation of plots in the RAJUK Purbachal New Town Project. The hearing will resume on August 28.

Judge Rabiul Alam of Dhaka Special Judge Court-4 passed the order after Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) officials—Deputy Director Salahuddin and Assistant Directors Afnan Jannat Keya and SM Rashedul Hasan—submitted their depositions against Sheikh Hasina, Sheikh Rehana, Tulip Siddiq, Radwan Mujib Siddiq, Azmina Siddiq, and others.

Earlier, on August 11, the same ACC officials testified in three identical cases against 47 individuals, including Sheikh Hasina, at Dhaka Special Judge Court-5. Judge Mohammad Abdullah Al Mamun had adjourned those cases till August 26.

Charges in these cases were framed by Dhaka Special Judge Courts-4 and -5 in late July, and arrest warrants were issued for the accused, who remain at large. The matters were forwarded to the Special Judge Court for trial by Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Zakir Hossain Galib on July 20.

The ACC filed a total of six cases between January 12 and 14, 2025. The cases allege abuse of power in the allocation of plots, with charge sheets submitted between March 10 and 14. Those accused include Sheikh Hasina, her sister Sheikh Rehana, her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy, Rehana’s children Radwan Mujib Siddiq, Tulip Siddiq, and Azmina Siddiq, among others.

The court had previously ordered the publication of a gazette notification summoning 100 people in connection with the cases. The ACC continues to pursue its investigation, while the accused have largely refrained from appearing before the court.

MN/