Staff Correspondent:

A Dhaka court will deliver its verdict on 27 November in a corruption case accusing 12 people, including former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, of abusing power to secure a plot in the Rajuk Purbachal New Town Project.

Judge Mohammad Abdullah Al Mamun of Dhaka Special Judge Court-5 set the date after concluding arguments on Sunday in the case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission.

The ACC filed six separate cases in January against Sheikh Hasina and members of her family over alleged irregularities in plot allocations.

The accused include Sheikh Hasina, her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy, daughter Saima Wazed Putul, sister Sheikh Rehana, Rehana’s daughter and British MP Tulip Rizwana Siddique, son Radwan Mujib Siddique and daughter Azmyna Siddique, among others.

On 20 July, the Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge Court directed that the cases be transferred to Dhaka Special Judge Court-4 and Court-5 to begin proceedings.

On 31 July, Dhaka Special Judge Court-5 framed charges against Sheikh Hasina and ordered the start of trial. As the accused were absconding, the court issued arrest warrants the same day.

In three related plot corruption cases, 12 people including Sheikh Hasina, 17 including Sajeeb Wazed Joy, and 18 including Saima Wazed Putul have been charged.

Among the other accused in the case are Sheikh Rehana and her daughter Tulip Rizwana Siddique, Azmina Siddique Ruponti, son Radwan Mujib Siddique Bobby, Secretary of the Ministry of Housing and Public Works Shahid Ulla Khondker, Additional Secretary (Administration) Kazi Wasi Uddin, administrative officer Saiful Islam Sarker, senior assistant secretary Purabi Goldar, former RAJUK chairman Anisur Rahman Miah, former member (Estate and Land) Mohammad Khurshid Alam, member (Administration and Finance) Kabir Al Asad, member (Development Control) Tanmoy Das, member (Estate and Land) Nurul Islam, former member (Planning) Mohammad Nasir Uddin, former member Shamsuddin Ahmed Chowdhury, director (Estate and Land-2) Sheikh Shahinul Islam, deputy directors Hafizur Rahman and Habibur Rahman, former state minister Sharif Ahmed, and former principal secretary to the prime minister Salauddin.