Three sentenced for embezzling Tk 6.58 crore from Sonali Bank in Khulna

A Khulna court today handed down different jail terms to three individuals for embezzling over Tk 6.58 crore from Sonali Bank Limited in Khulna. Two of the convicts were sentenced to 10 years' rigorous imprisonment each, while the third received three years' rigorous imprisonment. The court also imposed fines on all three; in case of default, the first two will serve an additional one year in prison, and the third will face three months' jail.

Khulna Divisional Special Judge Md Ashraful Islam delivered the verdict in the presence of one convict, court bench assistant Md Yasin Ali confirmed. The convicts are Md Robiul Haque Biswas, Managing Director of M/S Akbar Ali Sons Ltd, and Md Shafiul Haque Biswas, Chairman of the same company, who were sentenced to 10 years' rigorous imprisonment and fined Tk 6.58 crore each. The third convict, former advances officer of Sonali Bank's Daulatpur Corporate Branch, S.M. Imdadul Haque, was sentenced to three years' rigorous imprisonment and fined Tk 3,000.

During the trial, Robiul and Shafiul remained absconding, while Imdadul was present in court. Court sources said Robiul and Shafiul, in collusion, abused their official positions and breached public trust to unlawfully embezzle raw jute worth Tk 6.58 crore from the bank. Following the incident, Md Mosharraf Hossain, Deputy Assistant Director of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Khulna Integrated District Office, filed a case against four individuals on September 14, 2015. 

The charge sheet was submitted on November 11, 2016. One accused, Sohel Hossain Joardar, was later removed from the case following his death. The court also ordered the confiscation of properties belonging to Robiul Haque Biswas and Shafiul Haque Biswas.