A group of con artists disappeared after taking crores of taka in deposits from hundreds of depositors in at least 15 villages of Patuakhali Sadar upazila last month.

In order to lure the villagers, in three unions of the upazila, into making deposits with their fake non-governmental organisation (NGO), the 10-member gang made promises of paying lucrative profits to each depositor. 

At noon on December 29, hundreds of outraged depositors formed a human chain in Kheserhat area of Morichbunia union, demanding arrest of the criminals and recovery of their money.

The day before, several hundred depositors formed another human chain and made the same demand in Fatullah Bazar area of Auliapur union.

Rubel Mridha, a depositor and a member of Ward 6 under Morichbunia Union Parishad, addressed the human chain among others.

He said a 10-member gang led by Nasir Uddin alias Sabuj Mridha, son of Abul Hasem Master of Emadi village in the union, formed a fake NGO named ‘New Navana Company’ around six months back.

Setting up a makeshift office of the NGO in Patukhali Bazar area, they collected Tk 1 lakh from him and assured him of a profit between Tk 20,000 and Tk 40,000 per month.

Against each deposit, the criminals provided a depositor with only a handwritten piece of paper, mentioning the deposit amount and the date, said Khokon Sikder of Bara Auliapur village. “I deposited Tk 10 lakh that I got from selling my land and jewellery of my wife.”

Homemaker Shahnaz Begum from Tafalbaria village said, “Twenty days back, I sold two of my cows and deposited Tk 50,000 with them, with the assurance that I would receive Tk 60,000 a month later. But now, I found out that they have fled.”

“Sabuj Mridha took seven of my cows 15 days back, promising to pay me back Tk 2 lakh a month later. But they have disappeared,” said Shamsunnahar of the same village.

“I looked for them for the last three days, but it all went in vain,” said Abu Hanif Fakir, a small businessman at Fatulla Bazar, who deposited Tk 1 lakh.

Locals said other members of the gang are Shahjahan Gazi, Roman, Badol, Kuddus, Noman, Aminul Gazi, Rahim Mollah, Rahman Akon and Kawsar Gazi.

When this correspondent went looking for Sabuj at his home in Emadi village, the door of the house was found locked from outside.

His neighbour Shahida Begum said his parents lived there, but they both left two days back. His wife lives in Kalikapur area in Patuakhali town, she also said.

After this correspondent reached his wife Rumana Akhter in Patuakhali town, she said she was not aware of her husband’s monetary transactions with others as he had left her with their two daughters several months ago when he married another woman.

Contacted, Mostafizur Rahman, officer-in-charge of Patuakhali Police Station, said they received arrest warrant for Sabuj and they would take necessary steps upon completion of investigation.