Two PRAN-RFL managers sentenced to three years in prison

A Dhaka court on Wednesday sentenced two PRAN-RFL Group managers to three years in jail in a case lodged for illegally filling part of the Balu River in the capital’s Khilkhet area.

The court also sentenced two owners of a sand transport firm to one year in jail for providing transport and equipment for the operation.

Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Raunak Jahan Taki delivered the verdict.

PRAN-RFL managers Md Faisal Mahmud and Sarwar Jahan were each fined Tk 10,000 in addition to their jail terms. Soha M/s Madinar Path owners Moktar Hossain and Nazmul Alam Nahid were each fined Tk 5,000.

The first two will serve an additional month and the latter two 15 days in jail if they fail to pay the fines.

None of the four accused was present during the verdict. The court cancelled their bail and issued arrest warrants against them.

According to the case documents, Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) and police officials inspected the Balu River in Patira mouza under Khilkhet Police Station on 24 October, 2021, as part of drives against encroachment and pollution of Dhaka’s surrounding rivers.

They found around 12,500 square feet of the riverbank and riverbed had allegedly been filled with sand on behalf of PRAN-RFL Group.

Rezaul Karim, assistant director of Tongi River Port, filed the case with Khilkhet Police Station the same day.

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After investigation, Sub-Inspector Sohrab Hossain submitted a charge sheet against the four accused on 31 May, 2022. The court framed charges on 16 August, 2023.

The prosecution examined three of its eight witnesses before the court delivered the verdict after hearing both sides.

Public prosecutor Mohammad Shamsuddoha Sumon said the full judgment had not yet been received and the court’s detailed observations would be known after its release.