DHAKA : Around Tk 300 million deposited by 315 customers at the Sreenagar branch of state-owned Agrani Bank in Munshiganj has allegedly gone missing, leaving depositors struggling to recover their savings despite holding bank receipts, fixed deposit documents and mobile transaction notifications.
The affected customers allege that although they deposited their money through regular banking procedures, the bank is now unable to trace some of their accounts. Several customers say they have been denied access to their deposits even after presenting documentary evidence of the transactions.
On Sunday, November 8, the aggrieved depositors staged a human chain outside Bangladesh Bank’s headquarters, demanding the return of their money and punishment for those involved in the alleged financial fraud.
The protest, held at around 2pm, was organised by the Victims’ Depositors Unity Council. Its convener, Jafrin Alam, also known as Rakhi, presented a seven-point set of demands. The customers have also submitted a written application to Agrani Bank’s managing director.
In their application, the depositors said alleged irregularities and financial fraud at the Sreenagar branch had put their lifelong savings, retirement funds and business capital at risk. The failure to recover their deposits has pushed many customers and their families into severe financial difficulties.
They argued that people had deposited their hard-earned money in Agrani Bank because of its reputation as a state-owned commercial bank. Any irregularities or fraudulent activities by branch officials, they said, should not result in ordinary depositors losing their money.
The customers maintain that they followed all prescribed banking procedures when depositing their funds. Some received transaction notifications on their mobile phones, while others retained official deposit slips and fixed deposit receipt (FDR) documents. However, when they later sought to withdraw their money, the bank allegedly informed them that no corresponding accounts could be found.
Jafrin Alam said she had deposited a total of Tk 1.5 million in two instalments. After depositing Tk 1 million initially, she received a confirmation message on her mobile phone. She later deposited another Tk 500,000 but received no notification. When she contacted the bank, she was reportedly told that there was a software problem.
“Many other customers, like me, have faced the same problem. We want our deposited money back and demand punishment for those involved in the fraud,” she said.
Another depositor, Farhana Alam, said she had opened two fixed deposits worth a total of Tk 300,000 and still possessed the deposit receipts. However, she alleged that she had been unable to recover the money even after the deposits matured.
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Farhana said she had also contacted Agrani Bank’s acting managing director, Parsoma Alam, but had yet to receive a satisfactory resolution.
She further alleged that some senior bank officials were attempting to portray the matter as a private transaction to shield branch officials from accountability. The customers, she insisted, had deposited their money through official banking channels and should not be denied access to their funds.
At the human chain, the affected depositors outlined seven demands, including the formation of a high-level, independent investigation committee to examine the alleged irregularities and fraud at the Sreenagar branch, establish the facts and identify those responsible.
They also demanded a comprehensive list of affected customers and their financial losses, along with a transparent verification process to ensure the prompt return of all legitimate and documented deposits.
The depositors called for exemplary punishment and legal action under existing laws and banking regulations against individuals or institutions found responsible for the alleged embezzlement and fraud.
Responding to the allegations, Agrani Bank Chairman Syed Abu Naser Bakhtiar Ahmed said the incident had occurred around two months ago. The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) had completed an investigation, filed a case and several people had already been arrested, he said.
The chairman assured depositors that everyone would get their money back, but said the bank first needed to verify how much each customer had actually deposited. The verification process is currently underway, he added.
However, he did not specify when the depositors would receive their money.
The absence of a definite repayment timeline has left around 315 customers uncertain about when they will be able to recover their savings.
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