Local traders in Noapara, under Abhaynagar upazila of Jashore, formed a human chain on Monday demanding the withdrawal of what they termed “false cases” filed against them and punitive action against three current and former officials of Islami Bank’s Noapara branch.
The traders called for strict measures against former branch manager Mostafa Mehdi Hossain Chowdhury, former foreign exchange in-charge Safarul Islam, and current manager (operations) Abdul Hannan.
During the demonstration, held in front of Noapara Bazar in the morning, the participants alleged that the officials were involved in unethical financial transactions worth several crores of Taka, violating banking regulations for personal gain.
They claimed that when the irregularities came to light, the accused officials tried to shift the blame by filing false cases implicating innocent and honest traders of Noapara.
Speakers at the event said although two of the accused officials have since been transferred from the branch, local traders continue to face harassment through Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) cases instigated by them, sparking outrage in the area.
The traders further alleged that after the Covid-19 pandemic and amid the global economic slowdown and the Russia-Ukraine war, import-dependent businesses suffered losses due to rising dollar prices.
When traders applied for loan rescheduling as per Bangladesh Bank’s directives, the then branch manager Mostafa Mehdi Hossain Chowdhury and his associates allegedly demanded bribes in exchange for approval.
Upon refusing to pay bribes, the traders said they were threatened with lawsuits which were later filed through the ACC without any preliminary investigation or chance for self-defense.
Among those who joined the human chain were Md Sajjad Hossain, proprietor of Namira International, Saleh Ahmad of Ahmad Trade International, Shahag Hossain of Sonar Bangla International, Abdul Kashem of Karnaphuli Enterprise, Raju Ahmad of Utopia International, Al-Amin of Foat International, Jakir Hossain of Raju Enterprise, Shamsher Alam of New S Alam Enterprise, and Shahin Reza of M Reza Enterprise, along with several other local business owners.
