The court has sentenced Hasna Banu Lipi, a senior assistant in Rangpur Water Development Board’s engineer’s office, to four years of rigorous imprisonment. At the same time, he was fined 43 lakh rupees. The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed a case against him on charges of illegal acquisition of assets and concealment of assets. Special Judge Haider Ali of Rangpur passed the judgment in that case on Monday (June 19) afternoon. Accused Hasna Banu Lipi was present in the court when the verdict was announced. He was later taken to the courthouse under police guard. The accused tried to snatch the camera while the journalists were taking pictures there. The police arrested him. Meanwhile, according to the source of the case, Hasna Banu Lipi was working as a high-ranking assistant in the office of the Superintending Engineer of Rangpur Water Development Board. He amassed a huge amount of illegal wealth during his tenure. After investigating the matter, ACC filed a case against him in 2016 as the truth of the incident was proved. The plaintiff in the case was Zakaria, assistant director of Rangpur office of ACC. After the investigation, the ACC submitted the charge sheet against the accused. After hearing the testimony of seven witnesses in the case and after cross-examination, the judge found the accused guilty and sentenced him to four years rigorous imprisonment and ordered a fine of Tk 43 lakh. He also ordered the confiscation of the embezzled 43 lakh rupees in favor of the state. The money is asked to be deposited in the government treasury within the next 2 months. ACC lawyer Harunur Rashid said that justice has been established through this verdict. On the other hand, the lawyer of the accused, Abdul Haque Pramanik, said that they did not get justice. The judgment order will be reviewed after receiving the copy. We will appeal to higher court to get justice.
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