Company disappears with Tk 50cr of depositors

All the officials and employees of a financial organisation named 'RDP Finance and Investment MCS Ltd' went into hiding allegedly after embezzling about Tk 50 crore from a few thousand depositors in three upazilas under the district. 

On Monday, a good number of depositors went to the organisation office in the town to receive money as per commitment of its staff, but it was found under lock and key and the cell phones of the staff remained switched off. 

The organisation started its activities in a hired building on Patuakhali Sadar Road in 2012 with Ibrahim Khalil, former president of Islami Chhatra Shibir's Narayanganj district unit, working as its chairman.

They opened two branch offices in Baufal and Galachipa upazilas in the district the same year and collected about 5,000 members, saying that Tk 1,200 to 1500 would be given as monthly interest against the deposit of Tk one lakh.

There was arrangement of daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly basis deposit for the savings.

"I deposited Tk 700 to RDP every week and the total amount stood at about 26,000 this week. I have pass book and money receipts regarding it," said Monir Hossain, a resident of Baromasjid area in the town.

"As officials fixed Monday for paying back my total deposit, I went to the office around 10:30am but found it locked. Like me, over 100 depositors came to the office for the same purpose, only to be frustrated," he said.

After hearing the news of the RDP staff's disappearance, many subscribers thronged the office premises but they failed get anyone.

"I deposited Tk 500 under a monthly deposit scheme for two years as they told me that it is running according to Islami Shariah. But now I realise that they are cheat," said Abul Kalam of Swanirvar Road area. 

Gazi Hafizur Rahman Shabir, owner of the building that houses the office, said, "RDP hired a floor of my building for three years and the term would end in June this year. I don't know about their activities."

Contacted, SM Ziaul haque, OC of Patuakhali Police Station, said, "If anybody files case or submits written complaint, we will take lawful step regarding the matter."