Ukhiya, Aug 23 (V7N) — Hundreds of customers blocked the Cox’s Bazar–Teknaf highway in Palongkhali on Saturday, protesting alleged misappropriation of crores of taka deposited at an agent outlet of Al-Arafah Islami Bank. The blockade disrupted traffic on both sides of the highway for around three hours, leaving commuters stranded.

The protest began with a human chain at Palongkhali Station around 2pm, followed by a highway blockade. Hundreds of male and female customers joined the demonstration, chanting slogans demanding the return of their deposits and punishment of those responsible.

Some customers broke down in tears, saying their hard-earned savings had become inaccessible when they needed the money.

According to the protesters, they had deposited money at the Al-Arafah Islami Bank agent outlet in Palongkhali Bazar for years. However, when they later attempted to withdraw their savings, they were allegedly given various excuses and denied access to their funds.

Several customers said they subsequently compared their deposit receipts with their account records and found substantial discrepancies between the amounts they had deposited and the balances shown in their accounts.

Customer Mohammad Solaiman said he had deposited Tk 6 lakh at the outlet but later found that his account showed a balance of only Tk 4,480.

Another customer, Abul Manjur, said his account had previously held Tk 4 lakh, but the balance was now shown as only Tk 400.

Abdul Kader said he had deposited Tk 5.5 lakh, while only Tk 1,000 was reportedly showing in his account.

Other customers also reported similar discrepancies. Kulsuma Nahar, Nurul Bashar, Amirul Faiz, Runa Akter and Khatijatul Kobra were among those who claimed that substantial portions of their deposits were missing or inaccessible.

Khatijatul Kobra said she had deposited Tk 10 lakh at the agent outlet and later encountered difficulties when attempting to withdraw the money. She called for an impartial investigation and legal action against anyone found responsible.

Businessman Anwar Faisal Arif, the complainant in the case and a trader at Palongkhali Bazar, said Tk 5.55 lakh had been deposited in his own account. He alleged that he discovered the discrepancy when he attempted to withdraw the money after maintaining banking transactions with the outlet for a long period.

Customer Jafar Alam said he had saved Tk 4.5 lakh to arrange his daughter’s wedding but was now uncertain how he would meet the expenses if the money was not returned.

During the human chain, meat trader Mohammad Shahjahan reportedly fell ill and collapsed. He claimed that Tk 9 lakh of his money was deposited at the agent outlet.

Customers alleged that the problem extended beyond the 21 customers named in the case. According to the case statement, Tk 1 crore 42 lakh 57 thousand 944 was deposited in the accounts of those 21 customers, while protesters claimed that several crores of taka belonging to many other customers were also stuck at the outlet.

They demanded an impartial investigation to determine the actual amount involved and called for all legitimate deposits to be returned to the affected customers.

Police and other law enforcement personnel went to the scene after learning about the blockade and attempted to restore normal traffic by negotiating with the protesters.

Ukhiya Police Station Officer-in-Charge Atikur Rahman Majumder said a case had been filed over the alleged irregularities and that two people had been detained.

He said law enforcement personnel went to the scene after learning about the protest and worked to bring the situation under control. The blockade was lifted around 5pm, after which traffic resumed.

According to police, nine people have been named as accused in the case, including agent outlet owner Hakim Uddin, cashier Tahsin Islam and manager Habib Ullah Farhad. They have been accused of misappropriating customers’ deposits and falsifying account records and deposit receipts.

The case statement says a total of Tk 1 crore 42 lakh 57 thousand 944 had been deposited in the accounts of 21 customers.

On Tuesday, Aug 18, local residents detained agent owner Hakim Uddin and cashier Tahsin Islam and handed them over to police. Anwar Faisal Arif subsequently filed the case with Ukhiya Police Station against nine people under relevant legal provisions.

Ukhiya Upazila Nirbahi Officer Panna Akter said she had learned about allegations that several crores of taka had been misappropriated from the Al-Arafah Islami Bank agent outlet in Palongkhali Bazar.

“The matter has been brought to the attention of the higher authorities so that the customers can recover their deposits,” she said.

Police said the exact amount allegedly misappropriated and the identities and roles of those responsible would be established through investigation.

END/MSI/SMA/