Tk44 crore loan scam: ACC approves charge sheet against PK Halder, 17 others
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has approved a charge sheet against 18 people, including fugitive Prashanta Kumar Halder, also known as PK Halder, over the alleged embezzlement and laundering of Tk44 crore taken as a loan in the name of a fake institution.
The loan was approved in the name of Diya Shipping Limited, which ACC investigations found to be fake and non-existent, ACC Assistant Director (Public Relations) Tanzir Ahmed confirmed today (29 December).
According to records, Shib Prasad Banerjee, listed as the then managing director of Diya Shipping Limited, applied on 10 November 2014 to FAS Finance and Investment Limited for a six-year term loan of Tk44 crore at a low interest rate, citing business expansion.
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As collateral, 332 decimals of land in the Khalishajani Mouza of Kaliakair in Gazipur were shown. Prior to loan approval, survey firm BDS Adjusters valued the land at Tk12.61 crore, with a forced sale value of Tk10.29 crore.
However, a subsequent assessment by Mridha and Associates Limited on 19 March 2025 valued the same land at only Tk80 lakh, with a forced sale value of Tk56 lakh, revealing a major discrepancy in the valuation.
The ACC said that, without proper verification and relying solely on documents submitted by the client, Md Russell Shahriar, the then managing director of FAS Finance and Investment Limited, prepared the loan proposal on 17 December 2014.
The proposal was approved at the institution's 163rd board meeting on 22 December 2014, attended by the chairman, vice-chairman, and directors.
Investigators found that Tk42 crore of the approved loan was transferred to an account of Reliance Finance Limited at the Banasree branch of First Security Islami Bank through three Bangladesh Bank cheques.
The money was later moved to various accounts through additional Bangladesh Bank cheques.
The remaining Tk2 crore was transferred through Southeast Bank and Prime Bank to accounts belonging to Diya Oil Limited, Eta and Tiles Limited, and MST Marine Services and Traders Limited.
According to the ACC, the PK Halder group embezzled the loan funds by transferring the money through multiple institutional accounts in stages and laundering it by concealing the source and location of the funds.
Approval has been granted to submit a charge sheet against the owners of Diya Shipping Limited; the chairman, vice-chairman, directors, and former managing director of FAS Finance and Investment Limited; directors of several related companies; and the chief executive of a survey firm.
The accused will face charges under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947, and the Money Laundering Prevention Act, 2012.
PK Halder, a former managing director of Global Islami Bank, is already facing multiple cases involving money laundering and financial irregularities.
