5 lakh depositors swindled by Jamaat's farmer wing
http://www.thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=44617 |
| The signboard of an office of BCKS, farmers' wing of Jamaat, in Puthia, Rajshahi is placed inside its supervisor's office room as the NGO shut down after 1/11. Photo: STAR |
Bangladesh Chashi Kalyan Samity (BCKS), farmers' wing of Jamaat-e-Islami, but also registered as an NGO, remained the party's financial front through illegal banking in at least 17 districts over a decade, sources say.
Following a changed scenario after 1/11, the NGO has shut down its offices and swindled a huge amount of money collected through deposits, special deposit schemes and investment on loans among members since 1997.
The BCKS business was also unlawfully sold to Jamaat supporters for covertly continuing the financial activities.
Dissident BCKS officials, involved Jamaat leaders and victims say the accurate amount of misappropriation cannot be found out without proper inquiry. But they add the figure would be minimum Tk 100 crore collected from about five lakh people.
The sources say each of seven BCKS branches in Rajshahi earned around Tk 2.5 crore annually and the NGO staffs were engaged in misappropriation from the very beginning.
A large number of officials and employees, who were also members of Jamaat and its front wings, had left both job and party in protest against the cheating. Some dissident employees are now on the run following threats on their lives by Jamaat men.
Rafikul Islam, formerly a member of Islami Chhatra Shibir and BCKS field worker, on June 16 filed a general diary (GD) with Puthia Police Station. He says in the GD he has been threatened with death for revealing BCKS "secrets".
"I couldn't even imagine that Jamaat men were cheating," Nazmul Haque told The Daily Star. He was a Rokon (member) of Jamaat's Bagha unit and BCKS assistant director and resigned from both posts in September 2007.
"Members used to express anxiety over future of their money. I always assured them that Jamaat men cannot cheat. I had such confidence in Jamaat that I promised to return their money were they cheated.
"My illusions are now shattered. I've become penniless as I had to return money to many members from my pocket."
Nazmul was not alone. Aminul Islam, a BCKS supervisor, field workers Rafiqul Islam of Damadi village, Nazrul Islam, Khalid of Namajgram and Aminul of Agla also left both party and job.
Even a number of Jamaat leaders have expressed opinions against BCKS activities.
"We were against Jamaat's involvement in financial activities... loan recovery with interests and irregularities were turning us into enemies of the people," said Rafiqul Islam, Chapainawabganj BCKS president and district Jamaat executive member.
"The closure came more as a result of our demand than the central direction," Islam added.
Following a changed scenario after 1/11, the NGO has shut down its offices and swindled a huge amount of money collected through deposits, special deposit schemes and investment on loans among members since 1997.
The BCKS business was also unlawfully sold to Jamaat supporters for covertly continuing the financial activities.
Dissident BCKS officials, involved Jamaat leaders and victims say the accurate amount of misappropriation cannot be found out without proper inquiry. But they add the figure would be minimum Tk 100 crore collected from about five lakh people.
The sources say each of seven BCKS branches in Rajshahi earned around Tk 2.5 crore annually and the NGO staffs were engaged in misappropriation from the very beginning.
A large number of officials and employees, who were also members of Jamaat and its front wings, had left both job and party in protest against the cheating. Some dissident employees are now on the run following threats on their lives by Jamaat men.
Rafikul Islam, formerly a member of Islami Chhatra Shibir and BCKS field worker, on June 16 filed a general diary (GD) with Puthia Police Station. He says in the GD he has been threatened with death for revealing BCKS "secrets".
"I couldn't even imagine that Jamaat men were cheating," Nazmul Haque told The Daily Star. He was a Rokon (member) of Jamaat's Bagha unit and BCKS assistant director and resigned from both posts in September 2007.
"Members used to express anxiety over future of their money. I always assured them that Jamaat men cannot cheat. I had such confidence in Jamaat that I promised to return their money were they cheated.
"My illusions are now shattered. I've become penniless as I had to return money to many members from my pocket."
Nazmul was not alone. Aminul Islam, a BCKS supervisor, field workers Rafiqul Islam of Damadi village, Nazrul Islam, Khalid of Namajgram and Aminul of Agla also left both party and job.
Even a number of Jamaat leaders have expressed opinions against BCKS activities.
"We were against Jamaat's involvement in financial activities... loan recovery with interests and irregularities were turning us into enemies of the people," said Rafiqul Islam, Chapainawabganj BCKS president and district Jamaat executive member.
"The closure came more as a result of our demand than the central direction," Islam added.
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