Field workers of NGO fleeing homes
SUKS collects Tk 40 cr from 1.5 lakh members
Staff Correspondent, Rajshahi
Police could not arrest any more official of the Rajshahi based NGO Samaj Unnayan Karma Shangstha (SUKS) while its allegedly cheated members are agitating for refund of their deposits. The members are agitating since August 30 when some 100 cheques worth Tk two lakh issued by the NGO in their favour were dishonoured by banks. Police arrested SUKS Director (accounts) Naimuddin on September 1. SUKS Chairman SAQM Harun attended office on Tuesday under police protection while its other officials are moving freely in the city, some of its members alleged while talking to this correspondent yesterday. They alleged that the NGO reached an "under hand deal" with police. When contacted, duty officer at Boalia police station Taslima Khatun claimed that no more official was arrested as the NGO "reached an understanding" with its members and promised refund of their deposits within 15 days. Since its inception in 1993, SUKS so far collected nearly Tk 40 crore deposits from 1.5 lakh members through 70 branches in northern districts by offering attractive benefits. The NGO accepted deposits without approval of the Bangladesh Bank and its officials allegedly embezzled nearly Tk 20 crore of the deposits. Meanwhile, many of the field workers of the NGO are now hiding, failing to refund members' deposits. Nazrul Islam, a field worker in Motihar thana area told newsmen earlier that he refunded some deposits by selling his domestic animals. Latif Ali of Kharkhari area also sold his house in Rajshahi city to save himself from the NGO members' wrath. Rehana and Heera Parvin of Chapainawabganj have fled homes to save themselves as they have nothing to sell to refund deposits. Abdul Mannan, a field worker in Shibganj upazila, collected deposits from 40 members since he joined the NGO two years ago. Now he has to repay Tk 70,000 as the NGO failed to refund the members' deposits, he told this correspondent. Masud Rana of Taherpur in Puthia upazila said he deposited Tk 450 every month after he became a member of the NGO in June 2000. The NGO authorities gave him a cheque but it was dishonoured. On March 29, Bagha upazila branch manager of the NGO, Alamgir Hossain, filed a case with the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's Court in Rajshahi charging the NGO authorities for misappropriating Tk 13.65 lakh. SUKS Chairman SAQM Harun, Managing Director Nazrul Islam and Director (accounts) Naimuddin have been accused in the case. Boalia thana police said hey are investigating the case.
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