Heavy security near Dhaka’s lower courts as Hasina family graft verdict looms

Verdicts against ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina, her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy, and her daughter Saima Wazed Putul are likely to be delivered soon.

Security has been beefed up in Dhaka’s lower court area ahead of the verdict in three Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) cases against ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina on charges of abusing her power to allocate land in Purbachal to herself and her family.

Alongside the deployment of additional police personnel in and around the court premises since Thursday morning, a large number of Border Guard Bangladesh personnel are also on duty.

Law enforcers seem on high alert throughout the premises, including the main gates of the court, and armoured vehicles and prison vans have been kept ready for any unrest.

Anyone attempting to enter the main gate and deemed “suspicious” is being searched.

Mallik Ahsan Sami, deputy commissioner of police (Lalbagh Division), said that “a large number of personnel” have been deployed in and around the court premises.

He said, "We are fully prepared to ensure that no one can sabotage the verdict. We have a large number of people around the court premises and its surrounding areas."

He also said that other law enforcing agencies have also been deployed alongside police.

The court will deliver its verdict on the ACC cases filed against Hasina, her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy and daughter Saima Wazed Putul over corruption in the allocation of three 10-katha plots in the Purbachal New Town Project in Dhaka.

Dhaka Special Judge Mohammad Abdullah Al Mamun is expected to deliver the verdict in the three cases soon.

Aside from the Hasina family, 20 other suspects were accused in the three cases. Former RAJUK member (estate and land) Mohammad Khushid Alam was the only suspect in custody during the trial. He was brought to court to hear the verdict.