Plot graft: Hasina, Joy, Putul indicted, warrants issued for their arrest

A Dhaka court has indicted former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy, and her daughter Saima Wazed Putul in three separate cases filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) over the allocation of 30 katha (about 0.5 acre) of land in the Purbachal New Town Project through fraud, ordering the trials to proceed.

Dhaka Special Judge Mohammad Abdullah Al-Mamun made the decision on Thursday.

As the suspects are absconding, arrest warrants were issued against them, said ACC Counselor Mir Ahmed Ali Salam.

He said, “The suspects have been indicted in three cases. In one case, Sheikh Hasina and 11 others were accused. In another, Sajeeb Wazed Joy, Sheikh Hasina and 15 others, and in the final case, Saima Wazed Putu, Sheikh Hasina, and 16 others have been accused.”

Aug 11 has been set as the first day for recording witness testimony.

The ACC filed the three cases in January, accusing Hasina of abusing her power as the head of the government to benefit her family. The graftbusters said Hasina allocated 10 katha of land to each of her family members despite their not being eligible.