Purbachal plot scam: Deposition against Hasina, Tulip, Azmina, 15 others ends

A Dhaka court today concluded recording statements in a case filed against ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina and 17 others, including her two nieces British MP Tulip Siddiq and Azmina Siddiq, over the alleged plot scam in Dhaka's Purbachal.

Judge Md Rabiul Alam of Dhaka Special Judge's Court-4 set January 8 for next hearing in the case on completion of testimonies, said Belal Hossain, bench assistant of the court.

Earlier, Hasina was sentenced to 26 years' rigorous imprisonment in four graft cases between November 27 and December 1 last year. Her daughter Saima Wazed Putul and son Sajeeb Wazed Joy, and sister Sheikh Rehana were also convicted in one of the four cases each.

In addition, recording statements in another graft case filed against 18 people, including Hasina, Tulip and Hasina's nephew Radwan Mujib Siddiq Bobby is pending with the same court.

The ACC -- between January 12 to 14 last year -- lodged six separate cases with its Dhaka Integrated District Office-1 over alleged irregularities in the allocation of plots under the Purbachal New Town project.

The anti-graft watchdog alleged that Hasina, in collusion with senior Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk) officials, unlawfully secured six plots -- each measuring 10 katha -- in the diplomatic zone of Purbachal New Town project sector-27 for herself, Putul, Joy, Rehana, Bobby and Azmina despite their ineligibility under existing regulations.

On March 25 last year, the ACC filed six charge sheets with the Metropolitan Senior Special Judge's Court in Dhaka where Hasina was named as a common accused in all six cases.

On July 31 the same year, charges were framed against 29 people, including Hasina, Rehana, Joy, Putul, Bobby, Tulip and Azmina, in their respective cases.