A former Bangladesh Bank official has been handed 10 years imprisonment for misappropriating Tk 52 lakh by through fake accounts.

Now in captivity, ex-assistant director SM Giausuddin Mridha was sentenced to the term of rigorous imprisonment after trial concluded today.

Judge Joynal Abedin of the Special Judge Court-10 of Dhaka handed down the sentence in presence of the convict and fined him Tk 64 lakh.

The court acquitted two other accused—Moqbul Hossain and Mohiuddin Mridha—as the charges brought against them were not proved.

After cross-examination of all 27 prosecution witnesses, the court pronounced the judgment against the convict in the case.

According to the case statement, Giausudin opened several accounts at Bangladesh Bank using photos and addresses of Moqbul and Mohiuddin between November 1996 and March 1997 and misappropriated Tk 52,59,700 from the accounts.

Later on May 25, 1997, the then Bureau of Anti-Corruption filed a case with Motijheel Police Station against them for their alleged involvement with misappropriating the money.

After an investigation into the matter, an official of the BAC, Md Abdul Mannan, submitted a charge sheet against them on January 5 of 2003.

ACC Public Prosecutor Md Abul Hassan appeared for the state.