TDS Desk:

A Dhaka court has set 2 February for pronouncing judgment in a case against 18 people, including ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina, and her nieces Tulip Siddiq and Azmina Siddiq, over alleged irregularities in allocating a 10-katha plot in the Rajuk New Town Project

Dhaka Special Judge Court-4 Judge Rabiul Alam fixed the date on Tuesday. The judge also set January 18 for hearing arguments in separate cases against Sheikh Hasina, Radwan Mujib Bobby Siddiqi and Tulip Siddiq.

Anti-Corruption Commission Public Prosecutor Mohammad Zahidul Islam confirmed the development, saying the court has completed the examination of all witnesses in the plot corruption case.

The case was filed on 13 January last year by ACC Assistant Director Afnan Jannat Keya, accusing Azmina Siddiq of abusing power and committing irregularities to secure a 10-katha plot under the Purbachal New Town project. The case named Sheikh Hasina, Tulip Siddiq and 16 others as accused.

Following investigation, the probe officer submitted a charge sheet on 10 March last year against a total of 18 accused, adding two more names.

The other accused are – administrative officer Saiful Islam Sarkar of the Ministry of Housing and Public Works; senior assistant secretary Purabi Goldar; additional secretary Aliullah; secretary Kazi Wasi Uddin; former PA to the Rajuk chairman Anisur Rahman Miah; former Rajuk member Mohammad Khurshid Alam; Tanmoy Das; Mohammad Nasir Uddin; Major (Eng) Shamsuddin Ahmed Chowdhury (Retd); former director Nurul Islam; assistant director Mazharul Islam; deputy director Nayeb Ali Sharif; former prime minister’s private secretary-1 Mohammad Salahuddin; and former state minister for housing and public works Sharif Ahmed.