Purbachal plot scam: Court orders police to submit updates on Hasina's arrest by May 25

A Dhaka court today directed the officers-in-charge of 12 police stations to submit the progress reports by May 25 on the execution of arrest warrants against deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina and 24 others in five cases filed for irregularities in plot allocation in Purbachal project.

Hasina's son Sajeeb Wazed Joy, daughter Saima Wazed Putul, younger sister Sheikh Rehana, Rehana's son Radwan Mujib Siddiq Bobby, and Rehana's daughters Azmina Siddiq and Tulip Siddiq are among the accused in the cases.

Judge Md Zakir Hossain of Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge's Court passed the order after police failed to submit the progress reports by today, said a staffer of the court.

On April 13 and 15, the same court issued arrest warrants against Hasina, Rehana, Joy, Putul, Tulip and others after accepting the charges brought against them in the cases.

On March 25, the ACC pressed charges against Hasina and the others in these five cases.

The ACC officials have shown all the accused as fugitives, as they did not secure bail from any court in Bangladesh.

The anti-graft commission filed six cases over alleged irregularities in the allocation of the six plots, each measuring 10 kathas, in the diplomatic zone of sector-27 in the Purbachal New Town project. Hasina has been made a common accused in all the six cases filed in connection with the "irregularities".

According to ACC, Hasina, in collusion with senior Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk) officials, had six plots allotted to herself, Joy, Putul, Rehana, Bobby, and Azmina and Tulip.

The 18 others accused in the case are Saiful Islam Sarkar, administrative officer; Purabi Goldar, senior assistant secretary; Kazi Wasi Uddin, additional secretary (administration); Shahid Ullah Khandaker, secretary of housing and public works ministry; Rajuk officials -- Anisur Rahman Mia, former chairman; Md Khurshid Alam, member (estate and land); Kabir Al Asad, member (administration and finance); Tanmoy Das, member (development and control); Md Nasir Uddin, former member (planning); Maj (retd) Shamsuddin Ahmed Chowdhury, former member (development); Md Hafizur Rahman, deputy director (estate and land-3); Md Habibur Rahman, deputy director (estate and land-3); Faria Sultana, assistant director (estate and land-3); Mazharul Islam, assistant director (estate and land-3); Sheikh Shahinul Islam, director (estate and land-2); and Md Nurul Islam, member (estate and land); Mohammad Salahuddin, former personal secretary to Hasina; and Sharif Ahmed, former state minister for housing and public works.

On December 17, 2024, the ACC launched a probe into allegations of embezzlement totalling Tk 80,000 crore against Hasina and her family members from nine projects, including the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant.

On December 22, 2024, the commission also launched an investigation against Hasina and Joy over allegations of laundering US$300 million to the United States.