Southeast Bank official ‘flees with billions’, leaving customers anxious

“We cannot say how much money has been removed until the audit is completed,” bank officials say

Customers of a Southeast Bank branch in Feni have alleged a bank official has fled with “billions” of taka.

The bank authorities have launched an investigation into the matter after receiving a complaint against Ziaul Haque, a junior officer of the Silonia Bazar branch in Daganbhuiyan Upazila.

The branch manager Kamruzzaman said, “The removal of customers' deposits from bank accounts has been reported to top-level officials.

“In the meantime, officials of the audit department have visited this branch of the bank and collected information.

“It is not possible to provide any details until the audit process is completed.”

Ziaul, a resident of Chhagalnaiya Upazila, has been an employee of the branch’s remittance desk for seven years, according to bank sources.

He has been in hiding since the incident came to light, it added.

According to the bank, he built a rapport with many customers through his long-term presence at the branch.

When complaints began to surface about unauthorised withdrawals from fixed deposits of different tenors from customers, depositors started contacting the bank, it said.

Many visited the branch demanding answers and checking the status of their accounts, leading to unrest.

Imran Hossain, a South African expatriate customer of the bank, said: “I got confirmation that Tk 5 million was withdrawn from my account on the 30th of April.

“When I contacted the bank, I initially learnt Ziaul was involved. I later informed the bank manager Kamruzzaman in detail via call on 1st of May.”

Businessman AK Azad, a resident of Jayloskor union of the Upazila, said the whereabouts of Tk 3.2 million deposited in his bank account are not available.

He said he had made transactions through Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) multiple times. He believes Ziaul has withdrawn the money by forging his signature.

Many other depositors like them have informed the bank authorities about the loss of money, according to the bank authorities.

Five members of the bank's audit team led by Assistant Vice President Rezaul Kabir, the head of the team, came to the branch on Sunday to investigate the embezzlement of depositors' money.

Witnesses claim Ziaul shoved the bank's security guard Joynal Abedin and fled and went into hiding on Sunday.

His mobile phone has been switched off. No bank official could tell where he was.

Southeast Bank Limited Managing Director (Acting) Abidur Rahman Chowdhury said, “The audit process has already started. Detailed information will be provided once the final report is received.”