‘Defaulting Loans’: Bank probe claims Pabna farmers were rightfully sued

A three-member probe committee of Bangladesh Samabaya Bank Limited has found allegations of bank loan default against over thirty farmers in Pabna to be true.

The probe body also recommended the bank authorities to continue the legal battle against the farmers until they repay the money with interest.

The probe committee submitted its report with these findings and recommendations to the bank high-ups on December 14, said officials.

Forty farmers from Bharoimari village in Pabna's Ishwardi upazila jointly took a loan of Tk 16 lakh from the local branch of the bank in 2016 under an organisation named "Bharoimari Uttopara Vegetable Farmers' Cooperative Association Limited".

Each of the farmers was supposed to get Tk 40,000 and the bank issued separate cheques for each of them.

Talking to The Daily Sar, some borrowers said they didn't get the cheques, rather the bank officials and the association authorities jointly prepared a list, took the farmers' signatures, and handed over the money.

Some farmers alleged that they were given Tk 20,000 to 30,000 each but were forced to sign documents stating that they received Tk 40,000 each.

Later in 2021, the bank filed a case against 37 farmers on loan default charges and a court in Pabna issued arrest warrants against them.

Some farmers alleged that they were made accused in the case, despite repaying the loans with interest.