Sheikh Hasina and Daughter Face Arrest Warrant in Corruption Case

A court in Bangladesh has issued a new arrest warrant for former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her daughter, along with 17 others, in a case about corruption. The case involves claims that they obtained a piece of land wrongfully.

On Thursday, Dhaka’s Senior Special Judge, Mohammad Zakir Hossain Galib, accepted the Anti-Corruption Commission’s (ACC) charges against them. Since Hasina and the others are not present to defend themselves, the court has ordered their arrest.

The charges claim that Sheikh Hasina’s daughter, Saima Wajed Putul, used her influence to illegally get a residential plot instead of following proper procedures through the government agency RAJUK. This was wrong because Putul and her family already owned housing in Dhaka.

Putul currently works as the Regional Director for the World Health Organization (WHO) in South East Asia, based in New Delhi.

Earlier, Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal had also issued arrest warrants against Hasina and some officials for serious crimes against humanity and enforced disappearance, but this new warrant is linked to corruption and financial misuse involving around Taka 4,000 crores, related to celebrations for the 100th birthday of Bangladesh’s founding leader, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, in 2020.

The ACC is investigating this matter, as they believe the money was improperly spent from the national budget. The chairman of the ACC has stated that they will pursue justice for Hasina and others involved as they would for anyone else accused of corruption.