Are the Corruption Cases Against Former PM Hasina and Her Family Fabricated by the Yunus Regime?

Dhaka, Aug 13 (NationPress) As a court in Bangladesh prepares to hear testimonies from prosecution witnesses regarding alleged corruption involving former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her family, her son Sajeeb Wazed has strongly criticized the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus for fabricating these charges. His comments follow charges brought against Hasina, Wazed, daughter Saima Wazed Putul, and others related to the Anti-Corruption Commission's (ACC's) six cases concerning alleged irregularities in the Purbachal New Town project.

The court also issued arrest warrants for them, scheduling Wednesday to begin recording prosecution witnesses' testimonies.

Wazed, who previously served as the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Advisor to the Prime Minister, maintained that the entire procedure for acquiring the Purbachal plots was conducted lawfully. He emphasized that all actions, from application to allocation and payment, adhered to legal standards.

In a post on X, Wazed stated, "This is merely a futile endeavor by the Yunus regime to tarnish my family's reputation, driven by a politically compromised Anti-Corruption Commission and a judiciary too intimidated to seek the truth."

He questioned, "If the plots were purchased at official rates, why these 'cases'? Under the Yunus dictatorship, the ACC has become a tool for harassing and defaming my family with unfounded claims."

Wazed criticized ACC Chairman Abdul Momen, recalling that the previous Awami League government dismissed him over corruption allegations, suggesting that his only qualification for the ACC chief role is his affiliation with the pro-Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) as a former private secretary to BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia.

Given these circumstances, Wazed expressed little hope for fairness from the ACC, asserting that these allegations should have been dismissed by the courts at the outset.

He alleged that the Yunus regime's influence over the judiciary, along with political interference from BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami lawyers, has led to a judiciary that not only entertains baseless accusations but also issues arrest warrants arbitrarily, freezes properties, and progresses with unmeritorious cases to trial.

Wazed pointed out the absence of legal protection for himself and his family during the judicial process, stating, "Under the Yunus regime, trust in the judiciary's impartiality is nonexistent."

Concerns were raised regarding the arrests of numerous Awami League leaders and supporters in what he described as "wholesale false criminal cases," leading to prolonged jail terms without proper bail opportunities. He mentioned that even those who manage to attain bail are often re-arrested in additional cases, extending their pre-trial detention.

Furthermore, he noted the lack of due process, with incidents of lawyers and defendants facing assaults in court without repercussions.