Defalcation of another Tk 1.48 cr detected

A fresh case has been filed with Nilphamari thana after the detection by the probe body, sources said yesterday.

Seven postal employees have been charged in the fresh case filed on June 20 by Post Master of Nilphamari Head Post Office Torab Ali. They include the four sued in two cases filed earlier when misappropriation of Tk 2.84 crore was detected.

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The three others charged in the fresh case are Abdul Salek, now Assistant Post Master at Rangpur Head Office; Golam Nabi Sarkar, Assistant Post Master at Gaibandha Head Post Office and Azaharul Islam, Post Master at Kishoreganj Upazila Post Office.

They were postal operators at Nilphamari Head Post Office earlier.

The four others are Assistant Post Master at Nilphamari Head Post Office Mir Nural Islam Munna, Ledger Operator Ahmedul Islam Raju and postal operators Taslim Uddin and Liaquat Ali Khan, all charged in the previous two cases also. They are in custody now.

Golam Nabi Sarkar is under suspension now for his alleged involvement in a postal scamp in Gaibandha Head Post Office.

Sources at the Head Post Office here said the Tk 1.48 crore defalcation was detected during probe in the last one month in different sections by the second investigation team. The investigation is continuing, they said.

The first five-member probe body formed at the directive of Post and Telecommunication Ministry conducted its investigation from April 4 to May 19.

After their departure, a new four-member probe body started investigation in the last week of May at the directive of Post Master General, Northern (Rajshahi Division).

The new probe body is headed by Reazul Islam, DPMG of Dinajpur Postal Region and also acting DPMG of Rangpur Postal region.

The two earlier cases were filed on April 6 and 13 by the Post Master of Nilphamari Head Post Office when misappropriation of Tk 2.84 crore was detected in savings account and savings certificate sections.

Meanwhile, accused Postal Operator Taslim Uddin, who was

absconding since the probe started, was arrested on June 7 when he appeared before a court here for bail after expiry of 28 days' bail granted by the High Court.

He was taken five days' remand by detective branch police. On the third day of his remand he became sick and was shifted to Nilphamari Hospital and later to Rangpur Medical College Hospital.

The OC of Nilphamari thana, who is the investigation officer of the first case, told newsmen that some high officials of the postal department should be interrogated in this connection, but they are not giving time.

Some sources believe say the accused postal employees might have huge deposits with commercial banks in Nilphamari.

But the banks are ignoring an order by the central postal authorities in Dhaka to give statements of accounts of the accused and their close relatives and to stop payment from those.

When contacted by this correspondent, some lawyers in the town said the accused are trying to get bail from the High Court.