A Dhaka court has ordered publication of a gazette notification summoning former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and 11 others to appear in court in connection with a corruption case involving the illegal allocation of government plots in the Purbachal New Town Project.
The order was issued on Tuesday, June 17 by Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Md Zakir Hossain Galib, following a petition from the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). The court set July 1 as the next date for proceedings and instructed the BG Press to publish the notification.
The ACC alleges that the accused misused their official positions to obtain 10-katha plots from Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (RAJUK) in violation of regulations. The commission filed six separate cases in January, accusing several high-profile individuals, including members of Sheikh Hasina's family and former government officials.
In one of the cases, police reported that all 12 accused, including Hasina, are absconding. The prosecution subsequently requested a public summons via gazette notification. Arrest warrants have already been issued in all six cases.
The 12 individuals named in the charge sheet filed on March 10 include: Sheikh Hasina, former prime minister, Sharif Ahmed- former state minister for housing and public works, Purabi Goldar- former senior assistant secretary, Md Anisur Rahman Mia- former RAJUK chairman, former RAJUK officials, including Shafi-ul-Haque, Mohammad Khurshid Alam, Mohammad Nasir Uddin and others.
