The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) of Bangladesh has formally pressed charges against 23 individuals, including former Managing Director (MD) of NRB Global Bank, P.K. Halder, for the alleged embezzlement of BDT 50 crore (approximately $5.6 million) in the guise of loans.
The charge sheet was approved by the ACC following an investigation into the case, which was initially filed on November 14, 2021. The accused face charges under various sections of the Penal Code, the Anti-Corruption Prevention Act, and the Money Laundering Prevention Act.
Key Accused Individuals
The list of the accused, alongside P.K. Halder, includes several high-ranking officials from financial institutions and various companies:
- Maitree Rani Bepari, Managing Director of Reliance Finance Limited.
- Dr. Uddab Mallick, Director of Reliance Finance Limited.
- Basudeb Banerjee, Director of Reliance Finance Limited.
- Md. Abul Shahjahan, Director of Reliance Finance Limited.
- Various other directors, managing directors, and officials of different companies who are co-accused with P.K. Halder in the case.
Broader Context of Halder’s Allegations
P.K. Halder, a central figure in numerous financial scandals, has been accused of looting and siphoning off thousands of crores of takas from financial institutions during the tenure of the current Awami League government. The allegations against him encompass massive fraud and money laundering operations.
Halder faces over 50 different lawsuits related to financial crimes. In a separate case, he was sentenced to 22 years in prison in 2022. The submission of this new charge sheet is another step in the ongoing legal proceedings against him and his alleged associates.
