Savings certificate scam: 7, including postmaster, sued in Lakshmipur for embezzling Tk34 lakh 

Seven individuals, including a postmaster, have been sued in a Ramganj, Lakshmipur court in connection with a servings certificate scam through embezzlement of Tk34 lakh from seven women customers.

One of the victims, Ferdousi Akter Beauty, filed the case on Tuesday (25 March) with the Chief Judicial Magistrate Court of Ramganj. Six others were named as witnesses to the case.

The plaintiff's lawyer Anwar Hossain Mridha said Judge Mohammad Ismail has taken note of the incident and instructed the officer-in-charge (OC) of Ramganj Police Station to register an FIR.

OC Abul Bashar said, "We have not yet received any instructions from the court. Once we do, we will take the necessary legal action."

One of the accused, Jashim Uddin, is a former postmaster of Ramganj upazila, who is currently serving as the postmaster of Senbag upazila in Noakhali.

The others accused are Naimat Ullah, district manager of Channel Banking Division at Bank Asia; Alamgir Hossain, a business officer; Abdur Rahim, a former employee of the Ramganj Post Office; Anwar Hossain, initiator of an agent bank; his daughter Rukaya Hossain Ritu, and relative Monir Hossain. Among them, Anwar is currently in prison in a case involving cheque fraud from Asia Bank.

According to the case documents, the victims had gone to postmaster Jashim to open savings certificates. However, Jasim and Abdur Rahim told them that in order to purchase savings certificates, they would have to open bank accounts, and they directed the victims to do so at Bank Asia. 

Then the plaintiff Beauty deposited Tk10 lakh into her account at Bank Asia on 4 January, 2022. Additionally, witness Nurjahan Akter Sumi deposited Tk3 lakh, Rabea Sultan Ratna Tk5 lakh, Anima Rani Das Tk5 lakh, Yasmin Sabina Tk4 lakh, Jannat Ferdous Tk3 lakh, and Najmun Nahar Tk4 lakh. 

The accused collected money from the victims by filling out forms for national savings certificates from the post office, opening bank accounts at Bank Asia, and using checks to deposit money into each of their accounts. 

Later, the victims were given some interest each month, but after a few months, it stopped. 

When the victims inquired about the situation with Anwar, he gave them various excuses. 

Eventually, in March 2024, Anwar stopped the banking activities and went into hiding. 

When the victims asked postmaster Jashim and Abdur Rahim about the savings certificates, they could not provide any satisfactory answers. 

The accused, in collusion, embezzled Tk34 lakh from the victims through deception and forgery, providing the victims with false and baseless documents. When the victims asked for the return of their money, they were not given any.

Ferdousi Akter Beauty alleged, "Postmaster Jasim and the others accused have fraudulently embezzled Tk10 lakh from me. I want my money back."

Yasmin Sabina alleged, "When I deposited Tk4 lakh at the post office, Postmaster Jashim directed me to Anwar to open a savings certificate. They took our money with fake documents. They have taken a total of Tk2.12 crore from 36 of us. Anwar is already in prison. We want our money back."

Postmaster Jashim Uddin denied the allegations brought against him, saying, "I never supported Anwar in any way. I never advised anyone to open an account with him. I opened accounts for customers myself. When I didn't support Anwar, he complained about me to the local MP. I also didn't accept any checks from his agent bank. When I asked him to provide a direct bank check, he refused. Later, I informed the manager of Bank Asia's Ramganj branch about the matter. I suspected that Anwar was committing fraud."

Another accused, Naimat Ullah, district manager of Channel Banking Division at Bank Asia, said, "Anwar was the initiator at the post office. He deposited money for national savings certificates there. He embezzled that money. He used to deposit money every month in the amount of the dividends of savings certificates received from Bangladesh Bank as beneficiaries. When I became suspicious, I investigated and confirmed the fraud. I have filed a case against him, and he is currently in prison."