Photo : Messenger
The manager of Sonali Bank's Govindasi branch in Bhuyapur in Tangail, has been suspended due to his involvement in the misappropriation of Tk 5 crore from customers' savings certificates. According to bank sources, the branch manager, Shahidul Islam, misappropriated these funds by utilising multiple accounts belonging to his brother and a friend's mother-in-law.
In response to this incident, three separate investigation committees have been established by Sonali Bank's head office and the Tangail principal office to conduct a thorough inquiry.
In 2020, Shahidul Islam assumed the position of manager at Sonali Bank's Govindasi branch. However, his tenure of three years and two months would soon be marred by allegations of embezzlement that sent shockwaves throughout the community. During this time, Shahidul Islam, known for his strong information technology skills, allegedly executed a strategic operation, transferring a staggering Tk 5 crore 11 lakh to another account using the loose cheques (single-page emergency withdrawal slips) of 130 individuals' savings accounts within the bank.
Additionally, an amount of Tk 6 lakh 81 thousand meant for the impoverished community of Gabsara union in the upazila appeared to have gone missing. Investigations revealed that Shahidul Islam engaged in embezzlement by utilizing the accounts of individuals such as his elder brother, Mahir Uddin, and Khaleda Begum, among others. He was also alleged to have misappropriated funds through the accounts of his friends, including Mamun Chowdhury, the son-in-law of Khaleda Begum and Deputy Director of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) in Patuakhali District, who was associated with Shahidul Islam.
Shahidul Islam's involvement in facilitating a loan arrangement for a senior official of Central Sonali Bank raised further questions about his conduct as a bank manager. The impact of these actions on customers was devastating. Marjina, a customer, had deposited 21 lakh taka in her savings account, intending to use the funds for essential expenses, including her daughters' marriage. However, when she tried to withdraw her dividend earnings, she found her savings account mysteriously deactivated.
Customers like Shefali Begum, an assistant teacher at Ruhuli High School, were left perplexed by the situation. She had been regularly withdrawing her savings' profits but found her account deactivated after Shahidul's replacement. The loss of trust in the person entrusted to safeguard their funds was evident, and Shefali filed a complaint with the Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) in the hopes of resolving the issue.
Mahir Uddin, the proprietor of Talukdar Agro Farm, revealed that he had acquired a loan of Tk 7 lakh but remained uncertain about his account's current balance due to signed blank cheque pages. Khaleda Begum, the proprietor of Palash Agro Farm, expressed her lack of knowledge about her account's status and transactions typically managed by Mamun Chowdhury, her son-in-law.
Mamun Chowdhury, the Deputy Director of the ACC, admitted that the bank manager opened an account in his mother-in-law's name, which led to various transactions. However, concerns arose when unauthorized transfers from other accounts occurred. Shahidul Islam claimed that his manager's ID was hacked, leading to these fraudulent activities after his transfer to a different role.
The scandal has also brought to light the ongoing embezzlement of customers' savings certificates funds, suggesting that this problem may be systemic within the bank. Feroz Ahmed, the branch manager of Sonali Bank in Govindasi, remained tight-lipped, citing an ongoing investigation.
Abdullah Faisal, the Deputy General Manager (DGM) of Sonali Bank Principal Office in Ghatail, confirmed Shahidul Islam's suspension after confessing to embezzlement. The bank's head office is actively investigating, and a case has been filed with the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). Faisal assured affected customers that efforts are underway to ensure they receive their money back promptly.
Messenger/Disha
