Attend a rally, get Tk1cr interest-free loan: Hundreds lured to Dhaka, scammed

A little-known organisation, "Ahingsa Ganaavyuthan Bangladesh" or Nonviolent People's Upheaval Bangladesh (NPUB), attempted to gather a massive crowd in Dhaka today (25 November) by luring hundreds of people from different districts with the false promise of big interest-free loans from the interim government.

Arriving in buses, microbuses, and pickups, hundreds of people started gathering at Suhrawardy Udyan and Shahbagh Sunday (24 November) night for a rally the next day by the NPUB.

DU students and police later tried to convince the people to leave the areas by informing them that there was no rally scheduled and there was no programme to distribute loans either.

However, the number of people started rising this morning, creating traffic disruption in the area at around 7am. After they were convinced to leave the area too, the situation started returning to normal gradually.

Many of the people, who travelled long distances to attend the rally, alleged the NPUB promised that interest-free loans of between Tk1 lakh and Tk1 crore will be given to those who would attend the gathering at Shahbagh, according to police.

Victims, each of whom paid a registration fee of Tk1,000 to the members of NPUB, reported being told that the government would give out the loans from the laundered money brought back from abroad.

When they arrived in Dhaka, however, it became clear that there was no organised system in place to distribute the promised loans. Many even said they only knew that they would get Tk1 lakh in loan.

Talking to the media, Shahbagh Police Station Officer-in-Charge Shahabuddin Shahin said NPUB had sought permission to hold a large gathering but was denied.

"But they still lured people from the villages with the promise of Tk1 lakh in loans. Police did not allow people to gather in those areas," he said.

Many of those who arrived were carrying a leaflet calling on people from all walks of life who are interested in poverty alleviation by getting capital from one lakh to one crore taka without interest, without collateral, to participate in the programme.

Meanwhile, police have detained ABM Mostafa Amin, convenor of NPUB, who was pictured in the leaflet.

Sohel Rana, additional deputy commissioner of DMP's Ramna division, confirmed The Business Standard about Amin's detention.

Amin has been admitted to hospital due to illness and a case is being filed against the man, added the officer. 

On 22 November, NPUB at a media briefing at the National Press Club had announced that it would hold a solidarity rally at Suhrawardy Udyan on 25 November, demanding a special anti-corruption law.

NPUB member Md Mahbubul Alam Chowdhury announced the programme while reading out a written statement at a briefing held at Press Club.

TBS dialled two phone numbers found on the Facebook page titled "Nonviolent People's Upheaval BD - NPUB" but both were found switched off.

11 detained in Lakshmipur

On Sunday night in Lakshmipur, police and army personnel detained 11 people involved in the attempt to bring people to Dhaka for the supposed rally and impounded 10 vehicles, including three buses and seven microbuses, after locals stopped more than 200 people from starting for Dhaka, reports our correspondent.

However, by then, many people had already left for Dhaka from various parts of the districts, said the locals.

Md Sohel, driver of one of the hired buses, said two people named Alamgir and Siraj had hired them to take people to Dhaka but later left without any notice when locals came to stop the others from leaving.

Locals said NPUB's emergence coincided with the flood aftermath in early August, and it has since established a strong network in villages in Lakshmipur, even forming committees at the union level.

The organisation has been holding secret meetings, rallies, and house-to-house campaigns to attract members by promising financial relief. Many people, including grassroots political workers, joined out of desperation for money.

Local journalist Abdur Rahman Biswas said that in September, thousands gathered at Char Martin High School, following the group's call. However, the group's leadership remained elusive, raising concerns over its true agenda.