Worried depositors crowd postal banks: Panic withdrawal
In Nilphamari, the amount defalcated from depositors' accounts at the Head Post Office may cross Tk 10 crore, according to sources in the probe team. A quarter having political backing is allegedly trying to save some of the persons involved in the scam.
At Syedpur, people reportedly attacked the house of a postal employee involved in the scam.
Our Nilphamari correspondent reports: Bail petitions of accused Assistant Post Master Mir Nural Islam Munna and Ledger Operator Ahmedul Islam Raju were rejected again yesterday by court.
Yesterday was the first working day after reports of defalcation appeared on newspapers.
Several hundred depositors were seen crowding the Nilphamari Head Post Office all day long to know about their accounts.
This correspondent talked to BRAC official Din Mohammad (postal account No. 5760) and Lutfun Nahar, a housewife from Ukil Para in the town (account No. 4481).
They alleged that the system in the bank is faulty, which allows corruption.
They alleged that in the past, after depositing money against their accounts, they were given receipts, which were hand-written. The system should be computerised, they said. They however said their accounts are intact. Abdul Wahed, president of district fertiliser association (account No. 13225) said the system is outdated and troublesome.
There are 14,000 savings accounts and 17,000 general accounts at the Head Post Office.
Additional Post Master General, Rajshahi Division, who is a member of the inquiry committee, when contacted, refused to make any comment.
"I am not authorised to talk to newsmen" he said.
But he confidently said that the account holders should not worry about their deposited money.
Another member of the inquiry committee on condition of anonymity told this correspondent that as per rule it is mandatory for a Head Post Office to send audit reports to Postal Audit Office in Dhaka every fortnight.
Had audit been done timely and properly, irregularities could have been detected initially and so enormous scam would not have happened, he said.
There is a rumour in the town that some 'big fries' of postal department might be involved in the scam.
He said two members of the committee returned to Dhaka to submit the investigation report to the ministry. They will return soon with important directives regarding further investigation, he added.
He also said that the culprits have mingled all important papers and documents.
He said the defalcated amount may exceed Tk 10 crore.
Meanwhile, confusion has been created regarding the role of police in the case.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. The Sadar thana OC, who is also the investigation officer (IO) of the case, has gone on leave for four days from yesterday. In his absence the Second Officer, SI Moslem Uddin, refused to make any comment about the case.
Police did not seek remand of the accused till their report was filed at about 3 pm yesterday.
Allegations have it that an opposition leader during last municipal election took several lakh Taka from Assistant Post Master Mir Nural Islam Munna to repay his big bank loan.
An influential quarter is trying to save the culprits, according to some sources.
Reports from Syedpur said angry people attacked the house of absconding Postal Operator Taslim Uddin in the town Friday night.
Our Rangpur Correspondent reports: People thronged the main branches of post offices in Rangpur, Lalmonirhat and Kurigram yesterday to check their savings accounts.
The bank authorities assured them that their money is safe.
Probe bodies continued their investigation today in Lalmonirhat, and Kurigram post offices.
A source at Kurigram post office on condition of anonymity said investigation into the scam slowed yesterday for unknown reasons.
Sources at Rangpur Post Office claimed that the authorities were trying to save the culprits.
Earlier, the probe body detected that Rangpur Postal Inspector Abu Taher Md Shamsuzzaman withdrew
about Tk six lakh through forgery from the post office. But some sources at the post office claimed yesterday that he did not withdraw the money, but deposited it with his account at the post office.
Abu Taher's family returned the money by this time, some sources said.
Post Master of Rangpur Head Post Office however denied the allegation. He said the probe body investigated all ledgers starting from 1995, and there is no way to escape if any body has defalcated any amount.
A member of the probe body in Kurigram said the accused withdrew money from account of 'dead and missing clients', whose relatives did not look into those.
Lalmonirhat police, when contacted over phone, declined to name the persons involved in money defalcation 'for the shake of investigation'.
But they said a network inside the post office had long been involved in misappropriation of money.
Our Gaibandha Correspondent reports: The amount defalcated from depositors' accounts in Gaibandha postal savings bank may be over Tk one crore, according to sources close to the probe team.
They said an organised gang did the scam.
Worried depositors were seen crowding the postal savings bank yesterday.
Many of the account holders were seen withdrawing their money.
"God saved me, my account is intact", said Dilip Kumar Shaha of David Company Para in the town.
"I do not know whether my three-year time deposit is all right", said Pullok Chadra of Banglabazar.
"I am badly in need of Tk 2000 but the bank could not provide me with cash", said Ahinoor Rahman, a housewife.
"We are facing shortage of cash due to heavy rush for withdrawal. The situation will be alright soon", said Amjad Hossain, newly posted Postmaster.
A three-member team from Rajshahi headed by Ashrafuzzaman, Deputy Post Master General (Investigation), is now in Gaibandha to monitor post-investigation situation at Gaibandha Post Office.
Meanwhile, sources said the official procedure for suspension of the six persons accused for defalcation is being completed, said the Rajshahi DPMG.
The team led by Abdur Rashid, Director, Postal Department, will resume investigation soon, he said. The amount defalcated will go high, he added.
None of the accused persons could be arrested till yesterday. They are assistant post masters Golam Nabi and Rafiqul Islam and postal operators Habibur Rahman, Solaiman Ali, Mozaherul Islam and Rafiqul Islam.
Police said they made a drive last night to arrest them but the accused are fleeing.
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