A Dhaka court has framed charges against 13 individuals, including S Alam Group Chairman Mohammad Saiful Alam and Prashanta Kumar Halder, former managing director of Reliance Finance Ltd (now Aviva Finance Ltd), in a case involving the embezzlement of Tk24 crore.
Judge Nure Alam Bhuiyan of the Dhaka Special Judge’s Court-8 passed the order on Wednesday after a hearing, as confirmed by ACC Prosecutor Delowar Jahan Rumi. The court has scheduled 1 March for commencement of witness testimony.
The other accused in the case include S Alam Group Vice Chairman Abdus Samad, and Directors Mohammad Abdullah Hasan and Shahana Ferdous.
Also charged are former Reliance Finance officials Rashedul Haque (former EVP), Nahida Runai (former manager), Kazi Ahmed Jamal (former SVP), and Zumartul Banna (Former Deputy Manager).
Former officials of Marin Vegetable Oils – Zahir Ahmed (former MD), and Directors Tipu Sultan, Md Ishaque, and Md Abdullah Al Mamun – have been indicted.
During the proceedings, Nahida Runai and Rashedul Haque, who are currently in custody, pleaded not guilty and sought justice. The court rejected their petitions for discharge.
As the remaining defendants – including S Alam and PK Halder – are absconding, the court has issued arrest warrants against them.
The case, initiated by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), alleges that the accused abused their power and used forgery to secure a Tk24 crore term loan.
According to the case details, the loan was approved on 3 October 2013, in the name of Tasnim Flower Mills Limited (in favour of M/s Saiful & Co) and disbursed on November 4, 2013. The funds were subsequently transferred to S Alam Super Edible Oil Limited through similar fraudulent methods.
The legal process began on 2 July last year, when ACC Deputy Director Md Anwar Hossain filed the case. Following an investigation, ACC Assistant Director Md. Ismail submitted the charge sheet on 16 October.
The Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge’s Court accepted the charge sheet on 11 January before transferring the matter to the Special Judge’s Court for trial.
