Sajeeb Wazed Joy & Saima Wazed Get 5 Years in Each of 3 Purbachal Plot Graft Cases

Dhaka Special Judge Court-5 on Thursday sentenced former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's son Sajeeb Wazed Joy and daughter Saima Wazed Putul to five years in jail in each of three separate graft cases related to irregularities in plot allotment in Purbachal New Town, along with Tk 1 lakh fine in each.

Justice Mohammad Abdullah Al Mamun announced the verdict in the cases filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) in the afternoon.

The three cases involve a total of 47 accused, but 23 individuals. Sheikh Hasina, Joy and Putul were tried in absentia from exile in India. The other 20 include former Housing and Public Works State Minister Sharif Ahmed, former Senior Assistant Secretary of Housing Ministry Purbi Goldar, former RAJUK Chairman Md Anisur Rahman Mina, former Member (Development Control) Shafi ul Huq, former Member (Estate and Land) Mohammad Khurshid Alam, former Member (Planning) Mohammad Nasir Uddin, Major (Engr) Samsuddin Ahmed Chowdhury, former Deputy Director (Estate and Land-3) Naib Ali Sharif, administrative officer Saiful Islam Sarkar, Additional Secretary (Administration) Kazi Wasi Uddin, former Housing Ministry Secretary Shahidul Haque Khondkar, Member (Administration and Finance) Kabir Al Asad, Member (Development Control) Tanmoy Das, Member (Estate and Land) Md Nurul Islam, former Member (Planning) Mohammad Nasir Uddin, Director (Estate and Land-2) Sheikh Shahinul Islam, Director (Estate and Land-3) Md Kamrul Islam, Deputy Director Md Hafizur Rahman, Deputy Director Habibur Rahman, and former Principal Secretary to PM Mohammad Salahuddin. Only Mohammad Khurshid Alam is in custody.

Hasina has been sentenced to 21 years total in the three cases. Based on testimony from 91 witnesses, it emerged that despite owning land in Dhaka, Hasina and her family concealed this to obtain government plots.

ACC filed the cases in January 2025 alleging misuse of power to grab six 10-katha plots in Purbachal's diplomatic zone. Summons, arrest warrants and newspaper notices were issued, but the accused remained absent. The trial proceeded in their absence.

The charges state that Hasina violated RAJUK's housing policy to secure state land for herself, son and daughter, submitting false affidavits.