Ex-Food Officer Sentenced to 8 Years for Embezzling 190 Tons of Rice

A Chittagong court on Thursday sentenced Palash Pal Chowdhury, a former officer-in-charge of a government food warehouse, to eight years in prison for embezzling over 190 tons of rice.

Judge Mizanur Rahman of the Chittagong Divisional Special Judge's Court also slapped the convict with a fine of Tk 85.25 lakh—the exact market value of the stolen grain.

According to Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Public Prosecutor Mukarram Hossain, the court issued a fresh arrest warrant for Palash, who has been absconding since the charges were framed.

The embezzlement occurred between July 15 and 26, 2020, at the Baraghop food warehouse in Kutubdia, Cox’s Bazar. Investigators found that Palash misused his authority to illegally remove 190.442 tons of government rice.

At a market rate of Tk 44,766 per ton, the total loss to the state exchequer amounted to Tk 85,25,437.

The case was initiated on September 7, 2020, by Ratan Kumar Das, Assistant Director of the ACC Integrated District Office, Chittagong-2. While the initial FIR named five others—including warehouse staff and private business owners—the final charge sheet submitted in August 2022 recommended their acquittal due to a lack of evidence.

The court found Palash guilty under Section 409 of the Penal Code and Section 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947, noting that the charges were proven beyond reasonable doubt.