RAJUK seeks review of officials’ names in Sheikh family plot case

Officials from the Ministry of Public Works and the Rajdhani Unnayan Katripakkha (RAJUK) are reportedly avoiding office due to fear of arrest.

This follows their involvement in a case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) over alleged irregularities in the allocation of plots to deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina and her family in Purbachal.

RAJUK Chairman Md Siddiqur Rahman Sarker sent a letter to the national anti-graft body on January 16, urging reconsideration of the names of those involved.

In the letter, he argued that the land allocation was carried out in line with RAJUK’s regulations and that the officials concerned had merely followed government directives, bdnews24.com reports.

“Some of those named in the case had only signed documents, received letters, or handled dispatches. They were not involved in the alleged fraud or irregularities, yet they have been treated as equally responsible,” RAJUK chief told bdnews24.com.

The ACC filed six cases over alleged irregularities in the plot allocations, naming Hasina, her sister Sheikh Rehana, their children, and several officials from RAJUK and the public works ministry.

Siddiqur said, “The officials are not coming to the office due to fear of arrest in the ACC case, making it difficult to carry out daily operations. To relieve their concerns, we have requested a thorough review to determine whether they were genuinely responsible and had violated any laws.”

“If anyone is truly guilty of violating laws to allocate a plot to the former prime minister, they should be held accountable. But clerks and computer operators who were merely part of the process must have their roles properly reviewed,” he added.

According to RAJUK’s letter, six plots, each measuring 10 kathas, were allocated in the Purbachal New Town Project under RAJUK’s land allocation policy, based on correspondence from the Prime Minister’s Office and the Ministry of Housing and Public Works.

The plots were allotted to Hasina, Sajeeb Wazed Joy, Saima Wazed, Rehana, Azmina Siddiq, and Radwan Mujib Siddiq.

It also outlined the provisions in its land allocation policy that allow the government to allocate plots under specific circumstances.

In addition, the letter said the chairman and other members exercise their designated or delegated responsibilities and powers by the law.

It further added that officials from the ministry and RAJUK were named in the ACC case despite being required by law to process the allocations.

Had they failed to comply with government orders, they would have faced legal consequences under relevant laws and regulations.

“Therefore, as the officials did not act beyond legal and regulatory provisions, their inclusion in the case appears unjustified,” the letter reads.