A total of Tk4.38 crore has allegedly gone missing from the cash vault of Agrani Bank PLC’s Laldighi Purba Corporate Branch at the Zilla Parishad building in Chattogram.
Police have arrested two bank officials in connection with the incident — Senior Officer and cash-in-charge Md Kamrul Hossain, 41, and Senior Officer Md Zafrullah Tanvir, 25. They were later sent to jail by a court.
According to bank authorities, the missing money had been deposited by customers.
The case statement said Kamrul Hossain, who was responsible for cash management and the vault, found discrepancies between the cash account and the amount recorded as stored in the vault after regular banking operations on 9 August.
A subsequent review of vault records, documents and related accounts revealed a shortage of Tk4.38 crore, according to the statement.
Kamrul allegedly failed to provide a satisfactory explanation for the discrepancy.
Later that night, Agrani Bank Laldighi Purba Corporate Branch General Manager Mostaq Ahmed filed a case with Kotwali Police Station against Kamrul Hossain, Zafrullah Tanvir and several unidentified individuals.
The case statement alleged that when money was placed in the vault, bundles were prepared by inserting notes of Tk1,000 or lower denominations inside larger bundles of Tk1,000 notes. This allegedly created the impression that the vault contained the full amount recorded in official accounts, although the actual cash was lower.
The statement further alleged that money withdrawn from the vault was invested with Zafrullah Tanvir through special arrangements.
The funds were allegedly used to establish a cattle farm named Ishrat Agro in North Burishchar area of Hathazari. The farm currently has around 50 to 60 cattle of different breeds, according to the case statement.
Case investigation officer and Kotwali Police Station Inspector (Investigation) Md Iqbal Hossain said the two accused had been arrested and sent to jail in connection with the alleged embezzlement of Tk4.38 crore.
Police have seized two mobile phones, WhatsApp communication records and information, and a 64GB pen drive from the accused, he said.
“The case is under investigation. We are looking into whether anyone else was involved in the incident,” Iqbal Hossain said.
Kotwali Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Abu Zayed Mohammad Nazmun Noor said a case had been filed over the incident and two accused had been arrested. Investigators are working to identify whether any other individuals were involved, he added.
Meanwhile, Md Motaher Hossain, president of the Agrani Bank Officers’ Welfare Association, said an internal audit was underway to determine the details of the cash shortage and identify those responsible.
“The details will become clear after the audit is completed,” he said.
