Clients of Gaibandha Sonali Bank swindled

A three-member probe committee has been formed led by Debesh Chandra Sarker, senior officer principal at the principal office of the bank in Gaibandha. The other two members are Saidarul Islam and Jotimoy Sarker, senior officer principal and senior officer of the same office respectively. A total of 15 account holders have raised the allegations. In the branch, there are 500 accounts under different saving schemes for different terms. The bank has sanctioned loans between Tk47,000 to Tk1 lakh on average against 298 accounts out of the 500, said two officials of the branch, seeking anonymity. Ripa Akter, an account holder hailing from Bharatkhali village, said: “Recently I have gone to the bank to take some loan against my MDS saving scheme and came to know that already Tk55,000 has been drawn as loan against my account.” Rina Khatun, another account holder of the same village, alleged the same. Rabindrinath Banik, resident of Gajaria union in Phulchhari upazila, said he also proposed to the manager of the bank Abdullah Al Mamun for a loan against his MDS saving scheme, but the manager was dilly-dallying. Later, he came to know that Tk1 lakh had already been taken as loan using his fake signature. The irregularities were disclosed when some account holders involved in altercations with the manager over the issue. The manager sent notices to the account holders, against whose accounts the loans were taken, to repay the debt. The shocked account holders came to the bank upon receiving the notices. They submitted a complaint to Hasim Uddin, deputy general manager of the principal office of the bank, over the fraud, said the officials. However, Mamun claimed that he was a victim of conspiracy. He said the money drawn as loans was deposited in the accounts of some account holders, including Ripa, Rina, Rabindranath, Keramat Ullah and Shandha Roy. When asked who deposited the money, he did not answer. Hasim said money of all depositors is safe with the bank. If the allegations were found true, actions would be taken against the responsible persons, he added.