Bangladesh court issues fresh arrest warrants against Sheikh Hasina, family in land graft cases | World News
A Bangladesh court on Sunday issued arrest warrants against ousted prime miner Sheikh Hasina, her ser Sheikh Rehana, British MP Tulip Rizwana Siddiq, and 50 others over allegations of illegal land acquisition through abuse of political power, Press Trust of India reported.
Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Zakir Hossain passed the order after reviewing three separate chargesheets filed the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). “The court has fixed April 27 to submit a report on the execution of the arrest orders,” ACC Assant Director (Prosecution) Aminul Islam was quoted Dhaka Tribune as saying.
This comes just days after another arrest warrant was issued the same court against Hasina and her daughter Saima Wazed Putul, in a separate corruption case concerning allotment of residential plots the state-run Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (RAJUK) in Purbachal.
Story continues below this ad
According to Bengali daily Prothom Alo, the ACC filed three cases in total, all related to alleged misuse of power in securing land plots for family members of Hasina. The chargesheets name a total of 53 individuals, including Tulip Siddiq and Rehana’s son, Radwan Mujib Siddiq.
In one of the cases, Hasina and Rehana are accused of helping Tulip Siddiq illegally obtain a 10-katha plot in Dhaka’s Purbachal project. The second case accuses Azmina Siddiq of similar irregularities, while the third involves Radwan Mujib allegedly obtaining land using political influence.
The chargesheets allege the land was secured through direct applications to Hasina—then the sitting prime miner—passing official RAJUK channels and in violation of eligibility norms. “Putul directly approached her mother to obtain the land instead of following legal procedures,” the Indian Express quoted ACC officials as saying.
Hasina, now 77, has been living in India since her ouster on August 5, 2024, during a violent, student-led uprising that ended her 16-year Awami League regime. The current interim government, led Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, has initiated multiple legal proceedings against former ruling figures.Story continues below this ad
This week, Hasina lashed out at Yunus in a live-streamed address from India, accusing him of orchestrating “a killing spree” against Awami League members and supporters. “Yunus has killed so many of our people… This is a conspiracy to erase us,” she said, comparing his actions to atrocities committed the Pakani army during the 1971 Liberation War.
Calling Yunus a “usurer” hungry for power, Hasina claimed that members of her party, police officials, and journals were systematically targeted. “They are being hacked to death, beaten to death with lathis… just like 1971,” she said.
India, which is yet to officially respond to Bangladesh’s request for Hasina’s extradition, has voiced concern over the security of minorities in Bangladesh. Prime Miner Narendra Modi reportedly raised the issue directly with Yunus during the recent BIMSTEC summit in Bangkok. “Rhetoric that vitiates the environment is best avoided,” India’s Minry of External Affairs said in a statement following the meeting.
The Bangladeshi government maintains that fugitives like Hasina “will be treated no differently under the law.” ACC chief Mohammad Abdul Momen said, “The process to bring back a corrupt fugitive is the same, whether it’s Hasina or anyone else.”
(With inputs PTI)
© IE Online Media Services Pvt Ltd
Expand
