STAFF CORRESPONDENT

After a 40-year legal battle, 80-year-old Harendranath Chandra finally achieved victory as the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court has upheld its previous verdict over the payment of Tk 20 lakh to him as litigation cost.

A six-member bench of the Appellate Division headed by Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed came up with the order after dismissing a review petition filed by Sonali Bank against its earlier verdict.

Following the apex court order, Sonali Bank PLC must pay Tk 20 lakh to Harendranath Chandra without any delay, his lawyer Md Omar Farouq told The Daily Star.

Barrister Farouq said his client was made accused of embezzling funds falsely by the Sonali Bank and Harendranath endured years of hardship, including imprisonment and financial ruin.

In 1985, the Sonali Bank initiated a departmental proceeding and filed three cases against Harendranath alleging misappropriation of Tk 16.16 lakh from the bank. This accusation eventually led to the loss of Harendranath’s job and a five-year prison sentence.

Over the past four decades, he has tirelessly fought to clear his name.

On December 9 last year, the Appellate Division upheld a lower court judgement, acquitting him of all charges and ordering Sonali Bank to pay him Tk 20 lakh as compensation for legal expenditures. The bank authorities have also been

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