Police in Gaibandha have arrested Rafiqul Islam, 50, a member of a fraud gang, for attempting to scam customers at a Sonali Bank branch in Gobindaganj.
The arrest took place around 1:30 pm on Sunday at the branch near the South Bus Stand on the Dhaka–Rangpur Highway.
Rafiqul is from Sonakuri in Kishoreganj upazila, Nilphamari. Police say he works as a caretaker at a cattle farm in Radha Ballav, Rangpur.
Officials say the scam first occurred on 5 November at 11 am. Retired doctor Tofazzal Hossain of Kochashahar withdrew Tk24,000 in pension money from the branch.
Rafiqul approached him inside the bank, claiming some notes were fake. He took the cash for “testing” and fled with Tk14,000. Dr Tofazzal later filed a written complaint.
On Sunday morning at 11am, Rafiqul returned to the same branch and attempted another scam. Bank staff recognized him from CCTV footage of the earlier incident. Ansar members on duty detained him and brought him to the office of Assistant General Manager Ferdous Ahmed, who then informed the police.
Sub-Inspector Nazrul Islam and his team reviewed CCTV footage, questioned Rafiqul, and arrested him for fraud.
Ferdous Ahmed said the bank increased surveillance after the previous incident. “We caught the fraudster when he returned. Customers must stay alert while conducting transactions inside the bank,” he added.
Bulbul Islam, Officer-in-Charge of Gobindaganj Police Station, said Rafiqul actively works with a fraud ring. Police are preparing to file a case against him.
