BR officer held for embezzling Tk 1.5cr

A railway officer was arrested in Chattogram on Saturday night on charges of embezzling Tk 1.5 crore.

The arrestee was identified as Faisal Mahbub, a junior auditor at the accounts department of Bangladesh Railway (East Zone).

A team of Railway Nirapatta Bahini (RNB) arrested him following a written complaint of Deputy Financial Advisor Shahjahan, said Salamat Ullah, inspector of RNB (East Zone).

BR sources said Faisal manipulated salaries of the employees through fraudulence in the last one year from May 2020.

Railway officials said the salaries and allowances of railway staff have been paid from the sale of tickets at the respective stations for the last 150 years. The railway authorities are using a software to pay the salaries amid the pandemic.

They said Faisal took a one-month training in this regard. Taking advantage of this opportunity, he used to make fake bills in the name of the employees and transfer them to his four bank accounts.

Railway Divisional Accounts Officer (East Zone) M Shahjahan said, "A case has been filed against Faisal with Khulshi Police Station for embezzling railway funds."

"Primary investigation has found evidence of embezzlement of around Tk 1.5 crore. The railway authorities have formed a three-member inquiry committee to look into whether anyone else was involved in the incident. The committee will submit the investigation report within the next three working days."

RNB (East Zone) Inspector Salamat Ullah told The Daily Star, "He [the accused] will be handed over to Khulshi Police Station."