The trial of a graft case filed against 17 people, including deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina, her sister Sheikh Rehana and British MP Tulip Siddiq, began at a Dhaka court with depositions of the complainant on Wednesday.
The complainant, Md Salahuddin, also a deputy director of Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), started giving his statements before Judge Md Rabiul Alam of the Special Judge's Court-4 in Dhaka around 10:45 am.
The anti-graft body -- between January 12 to 14 -- lodged six separate cases with its Dhaka Integrated District Office-1 over alleged irregularities in the allocation of plots under Purbachal New Town project.
The ACC alleged that Hasina, in collusion with senior Rajuk officials, unlawfully secured six plots -- each measuring 10 kathas, in the diplomatic zone of Sector 27 of the Purbachal New Town project for herself and her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy and daughter Saima Wazed Putul; Rehana and her son Radwan Mujib Siddiq Bobby and daughter Azmina Siddiq despite their ineligibility under existing regulations.
Tulip used his special power to get plots for Rehana, Bobby and Azmina, according to the ACC officials.
On March 25, 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.
The commission has listed all the accused as fugitives.
On April 10, 13 and 15, the same court had issued arrest warrants against Hasina, Rehana, Joy, Putul, Tulip, Azmina, and Radwan, along with others, after taking cognisance of the charges.