Dhaka:A court has sentenced Md Refatul Haque, a former cash in-charge at Dhaka Bank's Bangshal branch, to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment for embezzling Taka 3.77 crore from the bank's vault. The judgment was pronounced by Judge Md Ebrahim Miah of Dhaka Special Judge Court-6.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the court issued a 10-year rigorous imprisonment sentence under Section 409 of the Penal Code, accompanied by a fine equivalent to the embezzled amount. Failure to pay the fine will result in an additional year of simple imprisonment, and the fine is to be paid to Dhaka Bank Limited as compensation. Furthermore, under Section 420 of the Penal Code, Refatul received a five-year rigorous imprisonment sentence and a Tk 2 lakh fine, with another year of simple imprisonment for non-payment. Additionally, for criminal misconduct under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947, he was sentenced to five years of rigorous imprisonment and fined Tk 2 lakh, with a similar penalty for defaulting.
The case unfolded when Dhaka Bank's Internal Audit and Inspection Unit identified a cash shortage in the Bangshal branch vault during an audit on June 17, 2021. Refatul admitted to misappropriating the money in small increments from June 20, 2020, to June 16, 2021. The audit revealed deceptive practices, including arranging bundles of Taka 100 notes with Taka 500 notes on the outside, and similar tactics with higher denominations, to mask the shortage.
Following the discovery, Mohammad Abu Bakar Siddique, the branch manager, filed a complaint against Refatul Haque and Emran Ahmed, the then FVP and manager (operations), alleging collusion. The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) approved the filing of a case under the Prevention of Corruption Act on June 19, 2021. An ACC Assistant Director later submitted the charge-sheet, and the trial commenced after charges were framed on May 22, 2023. During the proceedings, 16 witnesses provided testimony.