Staff- Reporter: Two people, including a bank official have testified in court against former Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha and 10 others. They testified in a case alleging embezzlement of a loan of Tk 4 crore from Farmers Bank (now Padma Bank).

They testified in the court of Judge Sheikh Nazmul Alam of Dhaka Special Judge Court-4 on Tuesday (February 2nd). The lawyers of the accused party interrogated them. The two witnesses are Abu Zahid Anshari, Vice President, Uttara Branch, Dhaka Bank Limited and Mohammad Mahbub Hossain, Bench Reader, Supreme Court.

After cross-examination, the court fixed February 14 for the next testimony. So far, 17 out of 21 witnesses in the case have completed the testimony.

On August 13, 2020, Judge Sheikh Nazmul Alam of Dhaka Special Judge's Court-4 framed charges against 11 people, including former Justice Sinha.

ACC director Benazir Ahmed, the investigating officer in the case, submitted the chargesheet to the court on December 10.

Among the accused in the case is the former chairman of the audit committee of Farmers Bank Limited. Mahbubul Haque Chishti (Babul Chishti) is in jail. Besides, former MD of Farmers Bank AKM Shamim, First Vice President Swapan Kumar Roy, Vice President Md. Lutful Haque, former SEVP Gazi Salahuddin, Tangail resident. Shahjahan and Niranjan Chandra Saha, a resident of the same area.

According to the ACC, Md Shahjahan and Niranjan took the loan of 4 crore from then Farmers Bank, which was later transferred to Sinha’s Sonali Bank account, showing it was earned from selling of Sinha’s house.

According to the complaint, money was later laundered from that bank account through transfer and conversion.

The ACC says the investigation into the case has found the allegations to be true. Therefore, on the recommendation of the concerned investigating officer, the charge sheet was approved against 11 people including SK Sinha who are currently staying abroad. After the investigation, Mahbubul Haque Chishti (Babul Chishti), the former chairman of the audit committee of Farmers Bank, has become the new accused.

Incidentally, the then Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha went on leave in early October 2017 due to the verdict to repeal the 16th amendment of the constitution and some observations. He later sent his resignation from abroad.