‘Forger’ arrested for encashing Tk 2.20 lakh

Parbatipur police on Thursday arrested a member of a forgery gang that cashed out Tk 2.20 lakh worth of cheques issued by the prime minister’s relief and welfare fund.

Police said they also recovered the money the same night.

The arrestee, Israful Islam, 40, son of Abdul Mabud from Uttar Salandar village in Parbatipur upazila, is a night guard of social welfare department in Parbatipur.

Police made the arrest after a case was filed against Israful and five others with Parbatipur Police Station. He was sent to jail on Friday after police produced him before the court, said Mokhlesur Rahman, officer-in-charge (OC) of the police station.

The other five accused are Aminul Islam, 35, son of late Chan Mia of Uttar Salandar; Sumon Mohanta, 25, son of Birendra Mohanta of Poddarpara; Hasan Ali, 50, son of Azimuddin of Boro Haripur; Shakhawat Hossain Bhola, 60, son of Shakhawat Hossain; and Tahidul Islam, 28, son of Abdul Majid of Sardarpara under the same upazila.

Prof Shah Md Sadiqul Islam, one of the five recipients of the cheques, filed the case after police found evidence of forgery against the accused, said police.

In early October this year, the Prime Minister’s Office sent out total five cheques to the office of the deputy commissioner (DC) in Dinajpur for five recipients -- Prof Shah Md Sadiqul Islam of Bhabanipur Degree College (Tk 1 lakh), Upendranath Roy (Tk 50,000), Abul Kashem (Tk 30,000), Abdul Khaleq Kazi (Tk 20,000) and Hasan Ali Razu (Tk 20,000).

Within a few days of the same month, before the recipients were notified of the arrival of the cheques at the DC office, the accused collected all the cheques from the DC office by producing false documents. 

Beginning from October 10, the fraudsters swiftly encashed the cheques on different dates after opening five bank accounts with Parbatipur branch of Agrani Bank Limited by producing false documents.  

The arrestee, Israful, was the introducer for opening all the five bank accounts, said police.

OC Mokhlesur said employees of both the DC office and the branch of the bank are being suspected for their involvement in the forgery.

The case is being investigated thoroughly and they were working on to arrest all the accused, he added.