A Dhaka court on Thursday sentenced former Dhaka Bank senior officer and cashier-in-charge Md Rifat ul Haque to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment for embezzling Tk3.77 crore from the bank's Bangshal branch vault.
The court also fined him Tk3.77 crore, equivalent to the embezzled amount, and an additional Tk4 lakh.
Judge Md Ibrahim Mia of the Dhaka Special Judge's Court delivered the verdict, acquitting the other accused, the bank's former operations manager Emran Ahmed.
The sentences were handed down under three separate provisions: 10 years under Section 409 of the Penal Code, along with a Tk3.77 crore fine; five years under Section 420, with a Tk2 lakh fine; and another five years under Section 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947, with a Tk2 lakh fine. The sentences will run consecutively, bringing the total prison term to 20 years.
Fakir Md Zahidul Islam, bench assistant of the concerned court, confirmed the verdict.
In default of paying the fines, Rifat will serve an additional year in prison for each charge. The court also ordered that the amount recovered under Section 409 be paid to Dhaka Bank as compensation. Time already spent in custody during the investigation and trial will be deducted from his sentence.
Rifat, a resident of Golapbagh in Jatrabari, worked as senior officer and cashier-in-charge at the bank's Bangshal branch.
According to the case statement, an internal audit conducted by the bank's head office on June 17, 2021, found a cash shortage of Tk3.77 crore in the branch vault.
During questioning, Rifat reportedly admitted to taking the money in small amounts between June 20, 2020 and June 16, 2021.
The complaint alleged that he concealed the shortage by arranging bundles of Tk100 notes with Tk500 notes on both sides and bundles of Tk500 notes with Tk1,000 notes on both sides, making them appear to contain higher-denomination currency.
Branch manager Mohammad Abu Bakar Siddique filed a complaint against Rifat and Emran on June 17, 2021, alleging their involvement in the incident.
Following approval from the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), a case was filed against the two on June 19, 2021.
ACC Assistant Director Md Humayun Kabir submitted the charge sheet against them on September 20, 2022. The court framed charges on May 22, 2023, and delivered the verdict after recording testimony from 16 witnesses.
Following the verdict, the court ordered Rifat's return to jail.
