Security tightened at court over verdict on Hasina, children

A Dhaka court is set to deliver its verdict on Thursday in three cases filed against 47 individuals, including ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy, and daughter Saima Wazed Putul, over alleged irregularities in plot allocations in the Purbachal New Town project.

Ahead of the verdict, special security arrangements have been implemented at Dhaka Special Judge Court-5. Extra precautions were observed at the main gates, with additional police and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) personnel deployed in and around the courtroom. The presence of journalists and members of the public was also noticeably higher.

Shahidul Islam, Senior Assistant Commissioner of the Prosecution Division of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, told Jago News that in addition to regular security measures, two platoons of police personnel are on duty to maintain public order, accompanied by two additional platoons from the BGB.

According to case documents, the first case was filed on 14 January against eight accused, including Hasina, over the alleged irregular allocation of a 10-katha plot in Purbachal. A subsequent charge-sheet in this case named 12 accused.

In the second case, the charge-sheet named 17 people, including Hasina and Joy, while in the third case, 18 people, including Hasina and Putul, were named.

Moinul Hasan, Public Prosecutor of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), told Jago News that the court framed charges in all three cases on 31 July and ordered the trial to begin. After long hearings and arguments, the verdict will be announced shortly. People across the country are closely following the matter.