Dbarta24 Court Report — A Dhaka special court on Tuesday sentenced former Bangladesh Bank Deputy Governor Sitangshu Kumar (SK) Sur Chowdhury to three years of imprisonment for failing to submit his asset declaration to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).
Judge Ayesha Nasreen of the Dhaka Special Judge Court-2 delivered the verdict in the presence of the accused, who was brought to court from prison under tight security and later sent back to serve his sentence.
Failure to Disclose Wealth Triggers Conviction
The court’s decision stems from a non-disclosure case filed by the ACC after SK Sur failed to submit his wealth statement within the legally stipulated timeframe.
ACC Prosecutor Abul Kalam Azad confirmed the ruling, stating that the prosecution successfully proved the charge during the trial, during which seven witnesses testified.
“We had requested the maximum punishment of three years imprisonment under the law, and the honorable court granted it based on the evidence presented,” said ACC Prosecutor Abul Kalam Azad.
Defense counsel Saroj Kumar Hawlader had sought a full acquittal for his client, arguing that the allegations lacked merit.
Background and PK Halder Connection
SK Sur Chowdhury, who retired from his role at Bangladesh Bank in January 2018, came under anti-corruption scrutiny in 2022 following high-profile investigations into the massive financial fraud linked to Prashanta Kumar (PK) Halder, former Managing Director of NRB Global Bank.
Investigators allege that during his tenure as Deputy Governor, SK Sur facilitated and personally benefited from fraudulent loan operations orchestrated by PK Halder.
Following preliminary inquiries, the ACC issued a formal notice requiring SK Sur to declare all moveable and immoveable assets held in his name or under the names of his dependents, alongside liabilities and income sources.
Key Case Timeline
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October 27, 2025: SK Sur officially acknowledged receipt of the ACC wealth disclosure notice. Under statutory rules, he was required to submit the completed details within 21 working days.
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December 23, 2025: Following his failure to file within the deadline, ACC Deputy Director Najmul Hossain filed a criminal case against SK Sur, his wife Suparna Sur Chowdhury, and his daughter Nandita Sur Chowdhury.
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January 14, 2025: An ACC enforcement team arrested SK Sur from Dhaka’s Segunbagicha area. He has remained in judicial custody ever since.
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August 25, 2025: ACC Deputy Director Md. Ahsan Uddin submitted the formal charge sheet to the court.
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November 6, 2025: The court framed formal charges against SK Sur, initiating the trial process.
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July 15, 2026: Arguments concluded, and the court set July 28 for the final judgment.
The conviction marks a significant legal setback for the former central bank official, who sits at the intersection of several high-stakes financial crime investigations in Bangladesh.
Legal observers note that the strict enforcement of asset declaration mandates serves as a critical precedent in holding current and former public custodians accountable.