Staff Reporter :
At least 200 demonstrators gathered outside a Rupali Bank branch at Amishapara of Sonaimuri in Noakhali district on Wednesday to protest against the alleged theft of money from their accounts.
During the protest, the account holders chanted slogans such as “thieves, thieves” and demanded exemplary punishment of the bank officials who were involved in the theft. Sources said, the incident came to the light on Tuesday when an expatriate Bangladeshi went to withdraw cash from his account held with the branch.
The expatriate claimed that he sent Tk 45 lakh to his account in between the year 2015 and April this year. But when he went to withdraw the cash on that day the cash officer said that he has a balance of only 50 thousand in his account. The bank official also informed him that some one had withdrawn the money in between November and December last year through various cheques.
Later, the news spread in the area infuriating the other account holders of the bank branch.
A large number of the account holders came to the bank branch on Wednesday to inquire about their account position and many of them found that their money has vanished from the bank.
Many of the victims alleged that the branch manager in connivance with some other bank officials stolen their money under the cover of cheque forgery.
Meanwhile, the authorities of Rupali Bank formed a seven-member probe body to investigate into the matter.
The account holders also asked to submit written complaints regarding stealing of their money.
Neither the Managing Director of the Bank nor the branch manager was available for comments.
