Chattogram:The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has filed a case against 14 individuals in connection with the alleged embezzlement of Tk 96.9 lakh from Bangladesh Railway through a forged bill. The case was lodged by ACC Deputy Director Md. Riaz Uddin at the commission's Integrated District Office-1 in Chattogram.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the accused include eight current and former officials and employees of Bangladesh Railway, three officials from Chattogram City Corporation, and three current or former employees of Shimanto Bank PLC. The alleged embezzlement is said to have occurred between November 2023 and January 2024, involving forgery, fraud, and abuse of power.
The case statement reveals that a fraudulent bill, alongside four genuine ones submitted by Messrs The Cosmopolitan Corporation, was processed for payment. Bangladesh Railway issued a cheque for Tk 96.9 lakh on December 31, 2023, which was deposited the next day into an account at Shimanto Bank's Agrabad branch in Chattogram. The ACC investigation discovered that the entire amount was withdrawn through multiple transactions.
Further investigation revealed no valid entry for the disputed bill in the railway department's bill registers or other official records. The case also highlights that mandatory procedures were not adequately followed in processing the bill and issuing the cheque, and the credentials of the principal contractor were not verified. The ACC has initiated this case to probe the alleged financial irregularities and the roles of the 14 accused.