KHULNA, July 28, 2025 (BSS) - A Khulna court today sentenced A.K.M. Shahiduzzaman, a former stenographer of the Satkhira District Council, to seven years' imprisonment on bribery charges.

The court also fined him Taka 7,000, and in default, he will have to serve an additional three months in jail.

Shahiduzzaman, son of Md Sohrab Uddin, hails from Parkumira village under Patkelghata upazila of Satkhira district.

Judge Md Ashraful Islam of the Khulna Divisional Special Judge Court delivered the verdict in presence of the accused, bench assistant Md Yasin Ali confirmed.

According to court sources, Md Mehedi Hasan, headmaster of Begum Rokeya Secondary School in Satkhira Sadar, applied for a government grant of Taka 3 lakh in July 2017.

When he submitted the application to the District Council office, Shahiduzzaman stamped and signed it but demanded 30 percent of the grant money as a bribe. The headmaster initially paid him Taka 10,000, considering the school's urgent development needs.

Later, Shahiduzzaman claimed he could secure an additional Taka 2 lakh for the school, in exchange for another Taka 50,000 in bribe.

Suspecting foul play, Mehedi Hasan approached the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and agreed to participate in a sting operation.

On June 12, 2018, ACC officials caught Shahiduzzaman red-handed while accepting Taka 1 lakh in his office.

ACC Assistant Director Md Mohtab Uddin filed a case with Satkhira Police Station the same day.

Later, on November 28, 2018, ACC Khulna office Assistant Director Md Shawon Miah submitted the charge sheet against Shahiduzzaman.