Like in the rest of Bangladesh, many people in Kurigram have lost their savings by investing in the Dubai-based Metaverse Foreign Exchange Group (MTFE) app hankering after money.
More than 50 customers of Char Rajibpur upazila became destitute by falling into MTFE’s trap.
MTFE conned them out of several crores of taka through its three CEOs, according to some of the victims of the scam.
Sources revealed that Jamiul Hasan, Noor Alam Hridoy and Yunus Ali, three youths from Rajibpur, as CEOs of MTFE, used to run campaigns to attract customers.
In July, they organized several motivational programs in the area with various facilities under the company called “Mega Seminars.”
They gained people's trust by inviting local teachers, politicians and scholars to the events. The company also won people’s trust by writing stamps and depositing checks.
In this way, customers were encouraged to invest in the scam. Some people were cheated after they invested Tk25,000 and some invested lakhs of taka by selling or lending household goods.
Now many people do not speak about being scammed due to shame.
Complaints of victims
Unemployed youth Maidul, 30, of Nayarchar village under Mohanganj union collected money from family and relatives and invested Tk1.11 lakh in the company after hearing about MTFE’s attractive offers.
Rubel Hossain, another local victim, helped him in this regard. Before Maidul, Rubel invested Tk2.40 lakh.
They said local youth Yunus and Munir organized seminars on MTFE in Mohanganj union. Ripon, Munir's close friend, acted as a local representative to help people open accounts with MTFE. Yunus and Munir became members of MTFE from Gazipur. From there, they ran activities in the area through Ripon.
Regarding joining the company, Maidul said: “Munir and Yunus held seminars in our area. I was in those seminars. Later, I gave money to Munir through Rubel. Munir would go to his friend Ripon and ask him to open IDs. Then he bought dollars with the IDs. But I could not withdraw any profit. Now Munir and Rubel are saying what can they do if someone runs away with the money.”
In this regard, Rubel Hossain said: “I myself have been cheated. I was able to withdraw only Tk40,000 after depositing Tk2.40 lakh. They took the rest of the money.”
On learning about MTFE, Rubel said: “Munir and Yunus used to arrange seminars at the local Nayarchar Fazil Madrasa. But they said that there was no guarantee [of profit] and told people to invest with that risk in mind. At least 20-30 people in the area gave money to MTFE through Munir, Yunus and Ripon. Each gave them Tk1-3 lakh. Many invested money by taking out loans. Everyone is now waiting for a solution.”
Ripon's house is in Puran Bazar village of Nayarchar. When contacted over the phone, he said that he works as a freelancer. Munir is his friend. He himself invested Tk25,000 three months ago.
Ripon said: "If someone wanted to make an account, I would do it for them. But I never took money from anyone. Who are you to question us?”
An incumbent leader of Rajibpur upazila Chhatra League invested in MTFE through Munir. Requesting anonymity, he said: "An elder brother and a friend invested Tk4.20 lakh at the end of July. I managed to withdraw Tk10,000. Then the company closed down. Now efforts are being made to connect with Munir on the issue.”
Who are the CEOs of Rajibpur?
Residents of Rajibpur upazila, Jamiul Hasan, Noor Alam Hridoy and Yunus Ali participated in various seminars as CEOs of MTFE.
Among them, Yunus Ali's house is in Sankarpur Para village of Mohanganj union.
Munir Hossain used to participate in seminars as his associate in the union. Yunus and Munir have been living in Gazipur for a long time. They have not been coming to the area since MTFE activities were concluded.
The other two CEOs, Jamiul Hasan and Noor Alam Hridoy, live in Rajibpur union. They are also not currently in the area. Their mobile numbers are also turned off. However, there is no information about their active participation in Rajibpur.
Hridoy's father Mojibur Rahman said: “My son lives in Sylhet doing freelancing work. Although he is a member of MTFE, he did not involve anyone from the area. He was working on this from Sylhet. Now his phone number is switched off; I cannot contact him.”
Meanwhile, Jamiul's father, Shahidur Rahman, did not answer his phone when this correspondent tried to contact him.
When Munir was contacted over the phone, he said: “I myself am a victim. I invested Tk2.5 lakh. However, I managed to withdraw the money.”
Admitting that he had attended a seminar on MTFE in the area, Munir said: “I know Yunus. But I am not the CEO. No one can say that I took money from anyone. I have lived in Gazipur for a long time. I earn by freelancing. I will not take responsibility for the investment of the victims. On the other hand, CEO Yunus Ali is not in the area. He was not available over the phone for comment.”
When asked about the overall issue, Kurigram Superintendent of Police Al Asad Md Mahfuzul Islam said: “If anyone who has been cheated by MTFE comes to us with evidence, we will provide legal assistance. Apart from this, the victims can take the help of the CID by providing evidence.”