ACC summons 13 Cenbank officials over S Alam loan scam
Golam Sarwar Chowdhury, owner of M/s Murad Enterprise and United Super Traders, customers of the Jubilee Road branch of Islami Bank, Century Food Products, a customer of the Khatunganj branch, and others embezzled money from the bank in the name of loans
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has summoned 13 officials of the Bangladesh Bank over their alleged connection in sanctioning thousands of crores of taka loans from Islami Bank Bangladesh to S Alam Group and its associates.
Six of the officials have been asked to appear at the ACC headquarters today (19 November), while the remaining seven are scheduled to appear tomorrow.
A letter summoning the officials was sent by ACC Deputy Director and inquiry officer Yasir Arafat to the Bangladesh Bank governor.
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Confirming the matter, ACC Deputy Director Aktarul Islam told The Business Standard that the questioning is part of the commission's ongoing inquiry into the alleged scam.
"Summoning is part of the inquiry process. After the inquiry, the officer will submit a report, and the ACC will proceed with legal actions accordingly," said Aktarul.
According to the letter, Golam Sarwar Chowdhury, proprietor of M/s Murad Enterprise and customer of Islami Bank's Chaktai branch; United Super Traders, customer of the Jubilee Road branch; Century Food Products, a customer of the Khatunganj branch; and others embezzled money from the bank in the name of loans.
These businesses took around Tk3,300 crore loan from the branches which was later funnelled to S Alam Group and his associates, according to an ACC source.
ACC asked Bangladesh Bank Inspection Department's joint directors Sunirban Barua and Anik Talukder; additional directors Shankar Kanti Ghosh and Salima Begum; deputy directors Md Jubair Hossain and Rubel Chowdhury to appear before it today.
Besides, the ACC asked Bangladesh Bank Inspection Department Joint Director Syed M Arif-un-Nabi; additional directors Mohammad Anwar Hossain, Md Shoayeb Chowdhury, Md Manjur Hossain Khan and Md Abdur Rauf; Deputy Director Lenin Azad Palash; and Director Md Sarwar Hossain to appear on 21 November.
The commission summoned and interrogated 23 officials of Islami Bank Bangladesh on 10-12 November over the same allegation while it also started an inquiry into allegations of money laundering against Mohammad Saiful Alam, alias S Alam, the owner of S Alam Group.
