Khulna, Aug 29 (V7N) — A Khulna court has sentenced two individuals, including a former Grameen Bank branch manager and a sub-postmaster, to eight years of rigorous imprisonment in separate embezzlement cases. The court also imposed substantial financial penalties on both convicts.

The verdict was delivered on Thursday by Judge Ashraful Islam of the Khulna Divisional Judge Court. Those convicted are Syed Zahidur Rahman, former manager of the Atulia branch of Grameen Bank in Shyamnagar, Satkhira, and Nazmul Islam, sub-postmaster of the Nalta Mobaraknagar Sub-Post Office in the same district.

Nazmul was present during the verdict announcement, while Zahidur Rahman remains a fugitive.

According to the Anti-Corruption Commission’s (ACC) public prosecutor Selim Al Azad, Zahidur Rahman served as the branch manager of Grameen Bank’s Atulia branch from 4 September 2005 to 7 October 2010. During this period, he embezzled funds by collecting deposits from individuals outside the bank’s regular clients and failing to register the money in official bank accounts. He also forged signatures on cheques for unauthorized withdrawals.

Following an internal audit, his successor Arifuzzaman filed a formal complaint at the Shyamnagar Police Station on 5 April 2012.

The court sentenced Zahidur to eight years of rigorous imprisonment and fined him Tk 44.50 lakh. In case of non-payment, he will serve an additional one year of simple imprisonment.

In a separate case, Sub-Postmaster Nazmul Islam was found guilty of misappropriating Tk 25.38 lakh by failing to deposit the amount into the government treasury during his tenure. The incident came to light after the postal inspector of Debhata Police Station filed a case against him.

Nazmul was sentenced to eight years in prison and fined Tk 25.38 lakh. Failure to pay will result in an additional one year of simple imprisonment.

The convictions come as part of the government’s continued efforts to tackle corruption in public service and financial institutions. The Anti-Corruption Commission has expressed satisfaction with the rulings and emphasized the importance of accountability at all levels.

END/SDA/SMA/