Suspended Rupali Bank manager sued over graft

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) yesterday filed two separate cases against suspended manager of state-run Rupali Bank Zobaynur Rahman for his alleged involvement in misappropriating around Tk 84.60 lakh of the Mahasthangarh shrine.

ACC Assistant Director Rabindranath Chaki filed the case with its Integrated District Office in Bogura accusing two more persons -- local businessmen Jahidur Rahman and Fazlur Rahman.

According to the case statements, there is a current account of Mahasthangarh shrine with the Mahasthangarh branch of Rupali Bank titled “Mahasthangarh Mazar Masjid Committee”.

The account was being operated by the deputy commissioner of Bogura, upazila nirbahi officer of Shibganj and a member of the committee, it added.

Without their permission, no transaction could take place, said the ACC official.

Meanwhile, Jahid and Fazlur also had two separate current accounts with the branch, he added.

On July 26, 2017 and January 2, 2018, about Tk 49 lakh and Tk 35.6 lakh were transferred to Jahid and Fazlur’s accounts respectively, without permission of the account operators, according to ACC findings.

They withdrew the money on the same day of the transfer, added the ACC documents. “Using bank officials’ ID, Zobaynur transferred the money to the accounts,” as per the first information reports (FIRs).

Contacted, UNO Alamgir Kabir of Shibganj said they usually check balance of the account every month. “After finding discrepancies, we informed the bank high-ups about it,” he said.

On May 28 this year, the bank, after an investigation, submitted a report accusing Zobaynur, Jahid and Fazlur for misappropriating the money.

Zobaynur is now behind bar in connection with another corruption case, said Assistant Director Chaki.

Jahid and Fazlur are on the run, he added.