Man jailed for embezzling Tk5 lakh from Birangona

A Dhaka court has sentenced ABM Golam Kadir, a self-proclaimed freedom fighter, to two years in prison in a case filed over embezzling Tk5 lakh by deceiving freedom fighter Birangona Zahera Khatun.

The court of Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Nazmin Akter passed the order today (8 March), lawyer for the plaintiff Md Momen Billah confirmed to The Business Standard.

The court also fined Golam Kadir Tk4,000, with one more month of imprisonment in default of payment, Momen added.

The accused was present in court when the verdict was announced.

According to the case statement, Jumi Akter, daughter of Zahera, filed the case on 2 March 2023 on charges of fraud. At the time, the court recorded the complainant's statement and issued an arrest warrant against the accused.

Later, the accused secured bail on the condition of a settlement.

The case states that the accused, who had prior acquaintance with the complainant and her mother, introduced himself as a freedom fighter and the general secretary of the National Freedom Fighter Foundation.

He allegedly told them that he had the authority to arrange government-allocated flats for freedom fighters under the Uttara Residential Model Town project, and that Tk5 lakh would be required to secure the allocation.

To arrange the money, the complainant and her mother took loans amounting to Tk8 lakh allocated for freedom fighters, from which Tk5 lakh was handed over to the accused.

Golam Kadir allegedly assured them that the flat would be allocated within a specified period. However, even after a long time had passed, no flat was allocated, according to the complaint.

On 14 November 2023, the court framed charges against the accused and ordered the trial to begin. During the trial, the court recorded testimonies from four witnesses.