Former Rupali Bank manager sentenced to 25 years in prison in ACC case

A court has sentenced Md. Abdul Majid, former manager of Rupali Bank's Ramgati Bazar branch in Lakshmipur, to 25 years of rigorous imprisonment in a case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) over embezzlement and acquisition of wealth beyond known sources of income. The court also ordered the confiscation of his illegally acquired assets worth Tk 1,24,15,543 in favor of the state.

Judge Md. Showkat Ali of the Special Judge's Court of Noakhali pronounced the verdict on Tuesday (July 21). The convict, Abdul Majid, was absent in court when the verdict was announced, leading the court to issue a conviction warrant against him. In addition to the prison sentence, the court fined him Tk 1,50,000, non-payment of which will result in an additional 18 months of simple imprisonment.

ACC lawyer Advocate Mohammad Zahir Uddin stated that Abdul Majid is a resident of Kafilatali area under Lakshmipur Sadar Upazila. He served as the manager of Rupali Bank's Ramgati Bazar branch from November 14, 2007, to January 31, 2013.

According to the case charges, during his tenure, he embezzled a total of Tk 70,57,145 from two STD accounts of the bank and government employees' pension funds without depositing the money into the bank. Subsequent investigations revealed evidence of him embezzling and acquiring illegal assets totaling Tk 1,24,15,543.

ACC sources stated that following the investigation, the then Deputy Assistant Director Md. Hossain Sharif and Assistant Director Mohammad Azgar Hossain submitted the charge sheet to the court.

In the judgment, the court sentenced him to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment under Section 467 of the Penal Code, 10 years under Section 409, and 5 years under Section 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947. As per the court's order, the sentences under the three sections will run consecutively, requiring Abdul Majid to serve a total of 25 years of rigorous imprisonment.