Members besiege cooperative office for refunds

Several hundred women, members of cooperative organisation ‘Race’ in Dimla upazila, yesterday besieged its office in the town, demanding refund of their deposits.

The members gathered at the office on College Road and started demonstrating after hearing that Mahiqul Islam Badhon, president of the organisation, was arrested the day before for allegedly defrauding a businessman.

Businessman Mahmudul Islam from Dimla Bazar area filed the case, alleging that Mahiqul had given him a check that was dishonoured by the bank.

After the demonstrators started gathering at Race office yesterday morning, the office manager fled the scene.

Cooperatives member Hosne Ara, from Sheikh Sundar village in Hatibandha upazila, said the organisation had assured 100 members in her group that each member would receive Tk 200 profit on every Tk 1,000 deposit they make.

However, Race did not pay them any profit over the past two years, she added.

Bobita Begum, another member from Dalia village in Dimla upazila, said she deposited Tk 55 thousand with Race since 2017.

But when she wanted to withdraw her money for her husband’s treatment, the officials at the cooperative had been giving her the run-around for the last three months, she also said.       

Dimla Upazila Nirbahi Officer Nazmunnahar said she received a written complaint from the members of Race and she would take necessary action as per law.