Latest news with #SajeebWazedJoy
Express Tribune
5 days ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
BD court hears graft case against Hasina
A court in Bangladesh on Monday heard cases brought by the anti-corruption organisation against ex-leader Sheikh Hasina and her family, including her daughter who has served as a top UN official. Three officials from the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) read out testimonies in three separate cases over an alleged land grab of lucrative plots in a suburb of the capital Dhaka. Hasina, 77, fled Bangladesh by helicopter on August 5, 2024, after weeks of student-led protests against her autocratic rule. She has defied orders to return from India, including to attend her separate and ongoing trial on charges amounting to crimes against humanity, over the deadly crackdown on the uprising. Hasina has been named in six corruption cases, along with her US-based son Sajeeb Wazed Joy, and her daughter Saima Wazed, who has been serving as the World Health Organization's Southeast Asia chief in New Delhi. "If found guilty, Sheikh Hasina, her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy, and Saima Wazed could face up to 14 years in prison," ACC lawyer Khan Mohammad Mainul Hossain told AFP. Wazed is on leave from the WHO and a new official has taken up a post as "officer-in-charge". In total, six cases have been filed of alleged corruption connected to Hasina. Among those named in other cases, some slated to be heard later in August, are Hasina's sister, Sheikh Rehana, and her children -- including British lawmaker Tulip Siddiq. Tulip Siddiq resigned as the UK government's anti-corruption minister in January, denying any wrongdoing after being named in multiple probes in Bangladesh. Siddiq's lawyers have said the allegations against her are false.
New Straits Times
5 days ago
- Politics
- New Straits Times
Bangladesh court hears graft case against ex-PM Sheikh Hasina
DHAKA: A court in Bangladesh on Monday heard cases brought by the anti-corruption organisation against ex-leader Sheikh Hasina and her family, including her daughter who has served as a top UN official. Three officials from the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) read out testimonies in three separate cases over an alleged land grab of lucrative plots in a suburb of the capital Dhaka. Hasina, 77, fled Bangladesh by helicopter on August 5, 2024, after weeks of student-led protests against her autocratic rule. She has defied orders to return from India, including to attend her separate and ongoing trial on charges amounting to crimes against humanity, over the deadly crackdown on the uprising. Hasina has been named in six corruption cases, along with her US-based son Sajeeb Wazed Joy, and her daughter Saima Wazed, who has been serving as the World Health Organization's Southeast Asia chief in New Delhi. "If found guilty, Sheikh Hasina, her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy, and Saima Wazed could face up to 14 years in prison," ACC lawyer Khan Mohammad Mainul Hossain told AFP. Wazed is on leave from the WHO and a new official has taken up a post as "officer-in-charge." In total, six cases have been filed of alleged corruption connected to Hasina. Among those named in other cases, some slated to be heard later in August, are Hasina's sister, Sheikh Rehana, and her children – including British lawmaker Tulip Siddiq. Tulip Siddiq resigned as the UK government's anti-corruption minister in January, denying any wrongdoing after being named in multiple probes in Bangladesh. Siddiq's lawyers have said the allegations against her are false.
India.com
31-07-2025
- Politics
- India.com
Bangladesh: Former PM Sheikh Hasina, Several Others Indicted Over Alleged Irregularities
DHAKA: Bangladeshi courts on Thursday brought charges against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy, daughter Saima Wazed Putul, and several others in connection with six cases over alleged corruption under the Purbachal New Town project. Following a hearing on the cases filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) of the country, Judge Mohammad Abdullah Al Mamun of Dhaka Special Judge Court-5 framed charges on three cases. Additionally, Judge Rabiul Alam of Dhaka Special Judge Court-4 indicted them in the remaining three cases, local media reported. "Charges have been framed against the accused in three cases. In one of these cases, 12 people including Sheikh Hasina, in the second, 17 including Sheikh Hasina and Sajeeb Wazed Joy, and in the third, 18 people including Sheikh Hasina and Saima Wazed Putul," the country's leading Bengali daily 'Jugantor' quoted ACC Prosecutor Mir Ahmed Ali Salam as saying. The courts also issued arrest warrants against them and fixed August 13 to record the testimonies of prosecution witnesses. Bangladesh Awami League's media cell on Wednesday reported that the country is witnessing an alarming surge in "fake legal cases, mob violence, and political revenge" under the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government. The party highlighted a "collapse of the justice system" in Bangladesh amid a "tsunami of fake cases" since the fall of the democratically-elected Awami League government. Earlier this month, the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) of Bangladesh sentenced Hasina to a six-month prison sentence on charges of contempt of court. Additionally, Shakil Akanda Bulbul, a leader of the Awami League's student wing Chhatra League, was sentenced to two months in jail in connection with the same case. The three-member tribunal, headed by ICT Chairman Justice Golam Mortuza Majumdar, passed the judgment, local media reported. The prosecutor filed contempt of court charges against Hasina and the Chhatra League leader based on a viral audio clip leaked on social media that featured the former Prime Minister and allegedly showed her interfering in the judicial process and issuing threats to the tribunal. Last month, the ICT issued a show-cause notice to Hasina, who left the country in August 2024, and Bulbul in the alleged contempt of court case. Analysts reckon the developments as a major political vendetta being pursued by the interim government led by Yunus, as several cases were filed against the former PM and her supporters on frivolous grounds immediately after her ouster in August 2024. A leading voice in the struggle to restore democracy in the country, Hasina, the daughter of Bangladesh's founder Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, had to flee the country in an ignominious manner and seek refuge in India.
The Independent
26-06-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Ousted Bangladesh leader's defence lawyer removed over social media post demanding her execution
Bangladesh's international crimes tribunal has removed a state-appointed lawyer for ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina for allegedly demanding her execution. Ms Hasina has been charged with crimes against humanity for her alleged role in the killings of protesters during last year's anti-government protests. She is also facing a contempt of court trial before the tribunal. The tribunal sacked Dhaka-based lawyer Aminul Gani Titu as state defence counsel for Ms Hasina shortly after appointing him to defend the fugitive prime minister. The tribunal said Mr Titu had been removed to "avoid conflict of interest' and to "ensure justice", New Age reported. He was replaced with Amir Hossain to represent Ms Hasina and her federal home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal. The decision came after Ms Hasina's son, Sajeeb Wazed Joy, pointed out that Mr Titu in a Facebook post last year had demanded a death sentence for the former leader. The interim administration headed by Muhammad Yunus"has appointed a lawyer on my mother's behalf" who "himself has demanded the death penalty for my mother on social media", Mr Wazed Joy said on Facebook last week. "This is not a trial. It is a cold-blooded preparation for a farce called a trial where the judicial system is being used as a weapon. I condemn this ridiculous farce of judicial activities.' During Wednesday's proceedings in the contempt case, the tribunal asked Mr Titu whether he had sought the former leader's execution. The lawyer admitted to making the Facebook post last August when the protests against Ms Hasina were raging in the country. The post called for Ms Hasina to be hanged. Mr Titu reportedly told the tribunal the post only reflected his personal opinion and that it would not influence his job. Ms Hasina fled by helicopter to neighbouring India after a student-led protest turned into an anti-government agitation and ended her 15-year authoritarian rule in the South Asian country. She continues to live in Delhi, close to the corridors of power in the Indian capital, evading an extradition bid, while her party members are in Bangladeshi prisons. According to a UN estimate, nearly 1,400 people were killed during the protests between July and August last year after Ms Hasina's Awami League government launched a crackdown on demonstrators in the capital Dhaka. The tribunal found that Ms Hasina 'directly ordered' security forces, her party and affiliated groups to launch operations which resulted in mass casualties. "Upon scrutinising the evidence, we reached the conclusion that it was a coordinated, widespread and systematic attack," Mohammad Tajul Islam, the tribunal's chief prosecutor, said. "The accused unleashed all law enforcement agencies and her armed party members to crush the uprising.' Mr Islam had filed charges against Ms Hasina and two of her officials, who were also charged with "abetment, incitement, complicity, facilitation, conspiracy, and failure to prevent mass murder during the July uprising". Prosecutors argued that Ms Hasina, as head of the government, was responsible for the security operations during the unrest. The tribunal last October issued an arrest warrant for the former prime minister as well as 45 of her ministers, advisors, and military and civil officials.
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Business Standard
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Business Standard
Bangladesh's ex-PM Sheikh Hasina's son Joy takes US citizenship: Report
Bangladesh's former Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina's son, Sajeeb Wazed Joy, has reportedly acquired a United States passport. He took the US citizenship oath in Washington, DC and received his citizenship certificate on Saturday, Bangladesh Pratidin reported. "Sajeeb Wazed Joy took the oath of US citizenship at the US Citizenship Centre in Washington, DC and received his citizenship certificate on Saturday. After receiving the certificate, he also applied for a passport", the daily Bangladesh Pratidin reported. "A total of 22 individuals from various countries participated in the oath-taking ceremony. Among them, three were Bangladeshi origin, including Joy. He brought a lawyer with him. Among the three Bangladeshis, Joy was the second, who has taken the oath", it added. Muhammad Ali Arafat, an Awami League leader and former State Minister for Information, said, "Since Sajeeb Wazed Joy's Bangladeshi passport, which he used to travel with, was illegally revoked by Yunus's illegitimate government. Under this circumstance, he had to obtain a US passport". Arafat said that a green card does not allow a person to travel outside the US, and Sajeeb Wazed Joy needed a passport to travel outside the US. "A green card does not allow to travel outside the US. Joy needed a passport to travel outside the US or visit his mother. In the current situation, he had to get a US passport", Arafat said. Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was ousted from power in a student-led uprising in August last year. Hasina fled to India an interim government led by Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus was formed. Earlier on May 10, the Bangladesh interim government banned the Awami League, the oldest political party in the country. The press release said that the decision was made to safeguard national security and sovereignty. "The Advisory Council meeting discussed the need to protect the country's security and sovereignty, the security of the leaders and activists of the July Movement, and the protection of the plaintiffs and witnesses of the International Crimes Tribunal until the trial of the Bangladesh Awami League and its leaders is completed A decision has been taken to ban all activities of the Awami League, including in cyberspace, under the Anti-Terrorism Act," the statement said.
