He died waiting to get back the job he lost unfairly

It's Rupali Bank, not Pubali Bank 

In the report below, we had inadvertently mentioned that Sarder Abdur Razzak was a former senior officer of Pubali Bank Ltd. He was actually a former officer of Rupali Bank Ltd. We have already corrected the information in our digital version and will run a correction in tomorrow's print edition. We regret the error and apologise for any misunderstanding.

Sarder Abdur Razzak, a former senior officer of Rupali Bank Ltd, was acquitted and proved innocent by a court 13 years ago in a corruption case.

But Razzak, who died about two years ago, got neither his job back nor any benefits from the bank even though he had asked for those time and again.

After the death of Razzak, his son Sarder Asaduzzaman, 32, who has a speech impediment, asked the bank for the payment of his father's arrears, dismissal benefits, remission of punishment, and posthumous benefits. He failed to get those.

Aggrieved by the bank authorities' inaction, Asaduzzaman and his two sisters Kamrunnahar Kumu and Sharmin Nahar, who are facing serious financial difficulties, have approached the High Court for a redress.

They filed a writ petition on March 30 seeking an HC directive on the bank.

Following the petition, the HC bench of Justice Mahmudul Hoque and Justice Md Mahmud Hassan Talukder yesterday ordered the Rupali Bank chairman to dispose of an application submitted by Razzak's son Asaduzzaman.

Asaduzzaman, who has other health issues, told The Daily Star on the Supreme Court premises yesterday, "I cannot speak properly due to physical disabilities. I'm now so helpless as my father became paralysed in 2014 and died in 2021 and my mother died in 2006."

"Now I'm studying BA at Khulna City College. I have no source of income. My two sisters help me continue my studies. I hope I will win the legal battle."

Kajal Rashid Biswas, who is providing Asaduzzaman with legal assistance pro bono, told this correspondent that Razzak was the manager of Rupali Bank's Barodal branch in Satkhira.

A case was filed with Ashashuni Police Station in Satkhira on July 13, 2002, against three people, including Razzak, in connection with financial irregularities involving Tk 9 lakh. Razzak was accused being involved in irregularities over Tk 1.58 lakh.

Before the case was lodged, Razzak was suspended on June 2, 2002. He was dismissed on September 25, 2006.

Though acquitted in a graft case, former banker couldn't get his arrears in 11 years; family still fighting a legal battle

The divisional special judge court of Khulna delivered a verdict in the case on September 27, 2010. The court acquitted Razzak and but sentenced two others -- Abul Kalam and Bimal Sarkar -- to different terms in prison.

On October 18, 2010, Razzak submitted an application to the Rupali Bank chairman seeking his job back and arrears, but did not get any response.

He died on August 15, 2021, after suffering from various diseases.

His son Asaduzzaman applied to the bank chairman on November 6 last year seeking his father's arrears and posthumous benefits.

On the same day, Abdullah Al-Mamun, principal officer and manager of Rupali Bank's Goraikhalihat branch in Khulna, wrote to the deputy general manager and zonal manager in Khulna, saying that Razzak had a loan of Tk 3.53 lakh against his provident fund.

The HC ordered the Rupali Bank chairman to dispose of the application of Asaduzzaman and asked its DGM of Khulna to settle the letter of Goraikhalihat branch manager as early possible.

After the letter is disposed of, the next course of action will be taken, the court added.

Contacted, Deputy Attorney General KM Masud Rumy said the Rupali Bank authorities will decide in accordance with the law whether Asaduzzaman and his sisters will get any benefit for their father's service in the bank.

The HC asked the bank authorities to get rid of the applications in 45 working days, he added.