Over Tk 2 cr defalcation detected so far

The amounts were defalcated by sections of the postal staff, according to findings by probe bodied.

Our Nilphamari Correspondent reports: The amount defalcated from accounts with the postal savings bank in Nilphamari Head Post Office may cross Tk one crore as Tk 56, 22,000 was found missing after scrutiny of only 500 out of 14,000 savings accounts and 17,000 general accounts, according to sources in the probe team yesterday.

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Assistant Post Master Mir Nural Islam Munna and Ledger Operator Ahmedul Islam Raju at the postal savings bank were arrested on Wednesday on charge of forgery.

Another accused, Postal Operator Taslim Uddin, is absconding since Monday after he appeared before the inquiry committee.

The probe team in investigation so far found that Mir Nural Islam Munna, Ahmedul Islam Raju and Taslim Uddin were involved in the scam.

The team handed over Munna and Raju to police at the Head Post Office.

Torab Uddin, Post Master of Nilphamari Head Post Office filed a case ( No. G R 87/5) with Nilphamari thana under Section 409/34.

Police on Thursday produced the two before court, which rejected their bail prayer and sent them to jail.

The amount was misappropriated between 2003 and 2004.

The money was withdrawn at different times through false voucher, over payment and repetition of payment.

A source at the Head Post Office told this correspondent that Taslim Uddin and Ahmedul Islam Raju were serving at the bank since 1994 and Assistant Post MasterMir Nural Islam Munna was there since 1972, starting as a Postal Operator.

The Deputy Post Master General (Nortern Region), a member of the probe team, told newsmen that they are probing all savings accounts, savings bonds, money orders, fixed deposits, prize bonds and stock of phone cards since 2000.

A process is on for suspension of the accused persons, he said.

Our Gaibandha Correspondent reports: Anxious account holders thronged Gaibandha Postal Saving Bank on Thursday to know deposited amounts, but the authorities closed all its counters and suspended transaction.

Newly posted Post Master In-charge Amjad Hossain filed a case on Friday against six employees including two Assistant Post Masters on charge of defalcation of money from accounts.

The accused persons are assistant post masters Golam Nabi and Rafiqul Islam, postal employees union leader Habibur RahmanA and postal operators Mozaharul Islam, Solaiman Alia and Rafiqul Islam, Postal operators are now at large since the defalcation unearthed.

"I am worried about my account with the postal saving bank, but the authorities did not reply to me satisfactorily", said account holder Shamsuzzoha of V-Aid Road.

On filing of complaints by some depositors, a team headed by Diponkor Mondol, Deputy post master Gneral, rajsahahai Division, began the probe on April 4.

Mondol declined to give the amount defalcated, saying the probe is on.

But sources at the bank said the amount could be around Tk 60 lakh.

Our Rangpur Correspondent reports: Highpowered probe bodies have detected defalcation of about Tk 87 lakh from postal savings accounts by postal employees in Rangpur, Kurigram and Lalmonirhat districts.

The probe teams also detected that lack of proper audit for years encouraged the employees to misappropriate funds.

A four-member team headed by Additional Director General Mobasher-ur-Rahman have detected misappropriation of Tk 24, 91,339 from accounts with Kurigram Head Post Office. A section of employees withdrew the money in the last two years through forgery.

A case was filed with Kurigram thana. Police arrested Acting Post Master Abdul Malek, Postal Operator Ashok Kumar Nag and Accountant Mofiu Rahman. Court sent them to jail.

In Rangpur, a five-member probe body headed by Director of Postal Department AKM Saifur Rahman detected Tk six lakh forgery by a section of employees.

Police arrested Inspector Abu Taher Mohammad Shamsuzzaman of Rangpur Head Post Office after a case was filed.

Police said two postal operators are also involved in the scam but did not disclose their names for the shake of investigation.

In Lalmonirht, another probe body detected misappropriation of about Tk 56 lak.

Police arrested Post Master Abul Katam Azad and postal operators. Abdur Rahim and Kabir. They are now on six days' remand.

A correspondent reports from Lalmonirhat: The three arrested postal employees in statements to police yesterday confessed their involvement in the misappropriation of funds from savings accounts at the head post office.

They are on six days' remand.

They said there is a network of forgers in the post office involved in the scam. They also disclosed their names bur police did not disclose their for the sake eof investigation.

Two others accused in the forgery case are absconding. They are Nurul Islam and Kamakhkha Nath.

Police said they called Nowab Ali, who retired recently as Assistant Post Master, but he did not come to Lalmonirhat thana.