A Dhaka court on Thursday (November 27) sentenced former state minister for Housing and Public Works Sharif Ahmed to 18 years of jail for his involvement in three cases for allocation of 30 kathas of government lands in favour of Sheikh Hasina and her family members at Purbachal New Town Project through abuse of power.
At the same time, the court sentenced deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina to 21 years in jail in three cases [7 years in each case] for taking allocation of 30 kathas of government lands at Purbachal New Town Project through abuse of power.
Judge Mohammad Abdullah Al Mamun of the Special Judge's Court-5 of Dhaka, pronounced the verdict at 11:45am.
The court also sentenced Sheikh Hasina's son Sajeeb Wazed Joy and daughter Saima Wazed Putul to five years of imprisonment and fined Tk 1 lakh each.
Apart from Sheikh Hasina, Sajib Wazed Joy and Saima Wazed Putul, there were 19 accused in three cases.
The other accused named in the charge sheets are the housing and public works ministry's former secretary Mohammad Shahid Ullah Khandakar, additional secretary (administration) Kazi Wachi Uddin, additional secretary Md Waliullah, administrative officer Mohammad Saiful Islam Sarker, and senior assistant secretary Purbhi Goldar.
Besides, the accused included Rajuk’s former chairman Mohammad Anisur Rahman Mia, former member (estate and land) Mohammad Khurshid Alam, member (administration and finance) Kabir Al Asad, member (development control) Tanmoy Das, member (estate and land) Mohammad Nurul Islam, former member (planning) Mohammad Nasir Uddin, retired member Major (Engineer) Samsuddin Ahmad Chowdhury, former member (development control) Shofiul Haque, director (estate and land-2) Sheikh Shahinul Islam, director Kamrul Islam, deputy directors Mohammad Hafizur Rahman and Habibur Rahman, former deputy director Nayeb Ali Sharif, assistant directors Faria Sultana and Mazharul Islam.
According to the charge sheets, Hasina, in collusion with top officials of Rajuk and the Ministry of Housing and Public Works, facilitated the allocation of the six plots — each of 10 kathas — in her and family members’ names through irregularities, corruption and abusing power during her tenure as prime minister.
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