NGO victims yesterday marched towards Natore district headquarters defying police interception and demanded justice in what they said was a swindle committed in cooperation with local administration.

A procession of around 500 swindled people submitted a memorandum to the Natore deputy commissioner and sent its copies to the chief adviser, army chief and some other government high-ups.

The victims made a six-point demand including a judicial probe into the fraudulent activities by some suddenly sprouted NGOs, which have vanished with around Tk 500 crore.

Their other demands include immediate arrest and punishment to swindler NGO owners and those among local administration and people's representatives who assisted them, and arrangements for returning the swindled money.

The victims from greater Rajshahi districts started gathering

in front of the Sadar upazila nirbahi officer's office in the morning. As the police dispersed them several times due to the state of emergency, they marched towards the DC office at around 12noon.

A group of seven of the victims entered the DC office to submit their memorandum. The protesters later marched to Natore helipad field and held a rally.

The speakers said a number of police as well as administrative officials and people's representatives assisted the fraud NGOs to disappear with public money.

They also demanded financial relief for one year for paying off debts to other NGOs from where they had taken loans to invest with the fraud NGOs.

They alleged they have been roaming around for the last several days but the local administration is still silent on the issue.