A Dhaka court has set February 2 for the verdict in a corruption case against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, her niece Tulip Siddiq, Azmina Siddiq, and 15 others. The case involves allegations of abuse of power and irregularities in the allocation of a 10-katha plot under the Purbachal New Town Project by the Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (RAJUK). The date was fixed on January 13 by Judge Rabiul Alam of the Dhaka Special Judge Court-4. The court also scheduled January 18 for arguments in another case involving Hasina, Radwan Mujib Bobby Siddiq, and Tulip Siddiq.

According to the Anti-Corruption Commission’s (ACC) public prosecutor Mohammad Zahirul Islam, the court has heard testimonies from 32 witnesses, and the prosecution believes the evidence proves the charges. The case was initially filed on January 13 of the previous year by ACC Assistant Director Afnan Jannat Keya against Azmina Siddiq, naming 16 accused including Hasina and Tulip. Following investigation, a charge sheet against 18 individuals was submitted on March 10.

The accused include several officials from the Ministry of Housing and Public Works and RAJUK, as well as former state minister Sharif Ahmed and former Prime Minister’s Principal Secretary Mohammad Salah Uddin.