Tk 56 lakh postal fraud in Nilphamari

A five-member team headed by Additional Director General Mofasserur Rahman, which probed the matter since Sunday, accused three persons of the scam yesterday.

They are Assistant Post Master Nurul Islam Munna, Ledger Operator Ahmedul Islam Raju and Postal Operator Taslimuddin. Munna and Raju were arrested yesterday after the probe team filed a case with Nilphamari thana. Taslimuddin is absconding, police said.

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Sources in the team said defalcation of Tk 56 lakh has been detected after checking some accounts following complaints by the account holders.

They said they have submitted their report to higher authorities.

More investigation will be done later, they said.

The amount was defalcated through forged cheques at different times since 2000.

The Rajshahi Divisional Post Master General Nasir Uddin also joined the probe team yesterday.

They said they found 'gross irregularities in accounts'. There are about 14000 accounts with the postal savings bank.

Sources at the post office said amounts were shown in some 'inoperative accounts' and then those were drawn through false cheques but not recorded in the ledger book since the year 2000.

It was also found that audit teams had audited the bank accounts twice a year as per rule but the irregularities were not detected earlier.

These came to light when the Post Master General directed for inquiry as some account holders lodged complaints.

Postal Operator Taslim Uddin is missing since Monday, when he submitted his statement before the inquiry committee.

Post Master of Nilphamari Head Post Office Torab Uddin told this correspondent that Taslim Uddin did not submit any leave application.

Meanwhile worried account holders are crowding the post office every day to know about their accounts.