Bangladesh court issues fresh arrest warrant against ex-PM Sheikh Hasina and daughter in land corruption case

A court in Bangladesh issued a fresh arrest warrant on Thursday against ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina, her daughter Saima Wajed Putul and 17 others in a corruption case, alleging fraudulent acquisition of a residential plot. Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Zakir Hossain Galib accepted the charge sheet from the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC)."Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Mohammad Zakir Hossain Galib issued the warrant accepting the ACC charge sheet in the case," said ACC prosecutor Mir Ahammed Salam to the press, as quoted by news agency PTI.The judge requested ACC to present its investigation report on May 4 regarding the case of land leased by RAJUK in Purbachal area near Dhaka. The ACC initiated the case against the former premier on January 12, 2025, along with other government officials.The charge sheet states that Hasina's daughter Putul improperly influenced her mother Hasina to obtain the plot, bypassing RAJUK and violating established procedures for plot allocation in the Purbachal New City Housing Project.The ACC noted that Putul proceeded despite already having property within RAJUK's jurisdiction in Dhaka. She currently holds the position of WHO South East Asian regional director in New Delhi since November 1, 2023.Bangladesh's International Crimes Tribunal previously issued two arrest warrants against Hasina and others for humanitarian crimes and forced disappearances.The recent warrant follows ACC's announcement of investigating alleged misuse of Taka 4,000 crore by Hasina, Sheikh Rehana, and a former official during "Mujib Centenary" celebrations.The yearlong celebration in 2020 marked Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's centenary during Awami League's governance. Rehana held no official role, while Kamal Abdul Naser Chowdhury, former principal secretary, served as celebration coordinator post-retirement.ACC chairman Mohammad Abdul Momen stated that corrupt individuals receive equal treatment, regardless of their status. Hasina faces additional charges including mass murders and forced disappearances in cases before Bangladesh's International Crimes Tribunal.The tribunal, originally established to prosecute Pakistani collaborators from Bangladesh's 1971 Liberation War, has previously tried and executed several individuals following complete appeal processes.