Borrowers do not know that crores of rupees have been taken from the bank
Photo Collected
Allegations of fraudulent loans, money embezzlement and legal harassment have been made against the concerned persons of the agent banking branch of a private bank in Haimchar, Chandpur. The responsibility of this incident is being placed on the customers. The issue has created a sensation in the area. The victims held a press conference at Chandpur Press Club on Saturday afternoon, seeking redressal and punishment for the people involved.
The victims said in the press conference, Tajul Islam Kabiraj of Charbhanga village of South Algi Union of Haimchar Upazila, his relative Achma Akhter and brother Md. Fraudulent activities have been going on for a long time through an agent banking branch of Islami Bank controlled by Alauddin Kabiraj. The concerned persons of the branch collect copies of national identity cards, tips and signatures from around half a hundred local people to open DPS accounts. After that approximately two crore rupees were taken from Islami Bank’s Chandpur and Faridganj branches in the name of these customers.
A victim named Noor-e-Alam said that Tajul Islam, a former official of Islami Bank Chandpur branch, opened an agent banking branch of that bank in Haimchar in the name of his sister-in-law Asma Akhtar. The branch was mainly managed by Tajul Islam and his brother Alauddin Kabiraj. Behind were Islami Bank officials Azad, Kabir Hossain, Omar Ayyub, Noor-e-Alam and others.
The former field officer of Islami Bank’s Chandpur branch accused Tajul Islam Kabiraj told Prothom Alo, “I voluntarily resigned from the bank last January.” I will not accept the complaints made by customers against me. Because, when the loan was given to the customers, I was working in Faridganj branch. Now I am not working anymore. And those who have taken money, the bank will answer about them.
Kader Sardar, a resident of Sahebganj area of Haimchar Union, is a trawler driver by profession. He said, “Three months ago I came to know that there is a bank loan in my name. In this work, NID card was used in the name of DPS without my knowledge, but I am not aware of the matter. Tajul Islam Kabiraj, a resident of the area and an official of Chandpur Islami Bank, framed me. He created a fake paper in my name and took a loan of 3 lakh taka, which is currently 3 lakh 41 thousand 600 taka with interest. I am now an absconding accused in the case filed by the bank authorities in this incident.
Similar complaints were made by Shahjalal Sarkar, Sohail Rana, Amanullah Sardar, Barek Sardar and Shahjalal Sardar. They are residents of Madhyachar area of Neelkamal Union of Haimchar Upazila.
Shahjalal Sarkar said that the photocopy of NID card was taken from him in the name of DPS. The loan taken in his name has now accrued interest – actually Rs 2 lakh 86 thousand. He said, ‘I am an innocent person. I earn my living by farming. I demand a fair investigation in this incident and legal action against the responsible persons.
Victims alleged that multiple bank accounts were opened using their information without their knowledge, check books were issued and later loans were sanctioned in their names. But the money of that loan was embezzled by the concerned persons of agent banking without handing over to the customers. The victims also claimed that there was connivance of the concerned bank officials in the entire process.
Due to non-payment of loans, the bank authorities have filed a case in court against the victims. Arrest warrants have been issued against many without any notice of the case, some have already served jail terms. Later they were forced to pay part of the debt to the court and released on bail. However, none of the defendants claimed that they were aware of the loan.
In the press conference, it was said that false information was presented without the knowledge of the victims and misleading information was also given to the court during the whole process of the case. It also raises questions about the judicial process.
Although legal notice is mandatory in check-related cases, none of the victims received any such notice. Apart from this, they also claim that imposition of liability against them is not legally acceptable due to non-acceptance of loan amount. They said that a similar fraud has taken place in other branches of the same bank using the same strategy. This has created extreme panic and mistrust among the common customers.
In this situation, the victims have demanded the formation of an impartial investigation committee, identification of the involved persons and exemplary punishment, refund and compensation to the affected people. Besides, they urged to take administrative action against the concerned agent banking branch.
Bangladesh Supreme Court lawyer Hamidul Misbah said in a press conference that this type of fraud by using the information of innocent customers is not only a financial crime, but it has caused serious suffering in people’s lives. Many have been imprisoned for no crime, which is very sad. The victims have requested the authorities to take quick action in this incident.
The representative of Islami Bank, the plaintiff in the case, asked for a statement on this matter. Ashrafuzzaman and Islami Bank’s Chandpur branch manager Sakhawat Hossain’s multiple mobile numbers were found to be disconnected.
Source: Prothom Alo Bangla
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