CHATTOGRAM, May 14, 2026 (BSS)- A court here today has sentenced a retired food officer to eight years imprisonment for embezzling government rice.  

Palash Pal Chowdhury, former officer-in-charge of Baraghop Food Warehouse in Kutubdia Upazila of Cox's Bazar was awarded the punishment in a case filed by Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).
 
Divisional Special Judge Mizanur Rahman awarded the verdict in absentia of Palash Pal. The court also fined him Taka 85,25,437, said ACC lawyer Advocate Mokarram Hossain.
The court acquitted five other accused of the case due to lack of evidence against them.
 
According to the case records, 190.442 tons of government rice was embezzled from the Baraghop food warehouse in Kutubdia between July 15 and 26, 2020. 

Cox's Bazar District Food Officer Afif Al Mahmud Mia had filed the complaint with the Kutubdia Police Station. Later, ACC filed a case on September 7, 2020 accusing Palash Pal Chowdhury and six others.
 
The investigation officer of the case submitted charge sheet on August 2, 2022.