Corruption Trial of Sheikh Hasina and Relatives Begins in Dhaka

Dhaka, Aug 13 (PTI) — The corruption trial involving former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and 17 others, including her nieces Azmina Siddiq and UK MP Tulip Siddiq, commenced on Wednesday at a Dhaka court. The case revolves around a housing plot scam, with testimony provided by Afnan Jannat Keya, an assistant director of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), before Judge Md Rabiul Alam of the Special Judge's Court-4, as reported by The Daily Star.

Previously, ACC Deputy Director Md Salahuddin testified in another related graft case implicating Hasina, Sheikh Rehana, and Tulip. London-based Tulip Siddiq, a Labour Party MP for Hampstead and Highgate, resigned earlier this year from her Treasury minister role following corruption allegations linked to her family from ACC investigations.

The politician, aged 42, has firmly denied any wrongdoing and accused the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus of orchestrating a smear campaign against her.

On August 11, witness statements began in three further cases concerning alleged corruption in plot allocations, involving Hasina alongside her son, Sajeeb Wazed Joy, and daughter, Saima Wazed Putul, as per Bangla daily Prothom Alo.

The ACC initiated six cases between January 12 and 14 against Hasina, her family, and 23 others over purported irregularities in the Purbachal New Town project's plot allocations. Tulip Siddiq stands accused of leveraging her influence to acquire plots for Rehana, Bobby, and Azmina.

The ACC filed six charge sheets on March 25 with the Metropolitan Senior Special Judge's Court in Dhaka, where Hasina is a common accused in each case. All defendants are listed as fugitives by the commission.

On July 31, charges were formalized against 29 individuals, including Hasina, Rehana, Joy, Putul, Bobby, Tulip, and Azmina, across their respective cases.

Hasina, 77, has faced multiple legal proceedings in Bangladesh following her ouster on August 5 of the previous year, a departure resulting from a substantial student-led protest that compelled her to escape Dhaka.

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