Industrialist sent to jail for embezzling Tk 18cr in Khulna

A Khulna court on Tuesday sent an industrialist to jail in a case filed over embezzling Tk 18 crore from the corporate branch of Sonali Bank in Khulna.

The accused is Md Salauddin, managing director of Star Sea Food Limited.

Khulna Metropolitan Session Special Judge Mahmuda Khatun passed the order after turning down his bail plea in the case, said Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) lawyer Khandaker Mujibur Rahman.

Lawyer Lutful Kabir Nowroz and lawyer Selim Howladar appeared for the state in the court.

On August 16 last year, the ACC Deputy Director (Khulna) Md Shaon Miah filed the case against five individuals in the Khulna Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's Court.

Md Salauddin, the bank's godown keeper Abdul Mannan Hawladar and grade-2 officer Abdur Rahman Babu were made accused in the case.

On April 28 in 2018, the ACC's investigation showed that Md Salauddin embezzled the loan of Tk 18 crore 50 lakh borrowed from Sonali Bank.

The collateral against this loan was the exportable shrimp kept in the company’s godown.

The bank appointed Abdul Mannan Hawladar and supporting staff Abdur Rahman Babu for godown maintenance as long as the company does not pay back their loan.

However, Managing Director (MD) of Star Sea Food Industries Limited Md Salauddin in collusion with Mannan sold all the exportable shrimps in the local market from July 15 to August 10 of 2017.

The then deputy general manager of the bank Abu Hossain Sheikh found out about the secret fish sale and filed a case with the local police station at that time.

Salahuddin was on bail, said lawyer Mujibur.