Allegations of extortion of 1.5 crore taka under the pretext of offering a house in Gaibandha

A person posing as an official of a social organization has been accused of embezzling 15 million taka from about 1,000 families in Gaibandha in a unique way by promising to provide them with pucca houses. Maulana Shahidul Islam, who introduced the organization, has disappeared after embezzling money from these families by promising to provide free pucca houses, tube wells, cows and goats to low-income people in the village. This has put the suffering poor people of these areas in trouble. According to the victims' complaints, Maulana Shahidul Islam, who introduced himself as an official of a social organization called...

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A person posing as an official of a social organization has been accused of embezzling 15 million taka from about 1,000 families in Gaibandha in a unique way by promising to provide them with pucca houses. Maulana Shahidul Islam, who introduced the organization, has disappeared after embezzling money from these families by promising to provide free pucca houses, tube wells, cows and goats to low-income people in the village. This has put the suffering poor people of these areas in trouble.

According to the victims’ complaints, Maulana Shahidul Islam, who introduced himself as an official of a social organization called Al Ansar Welfare Foundation Bangladesh, disappeared with about 15 million taka through a unique fraud, first by promising free tube wells and later free water wells.

It has been alleged that Maulana Shahidul Islam, son of Akbar Ali of Brindavan Para in Bogra Sadar, developed a friendship with Maulana Alamin, principal of Jamia Islamia Achma Mahila Madrasa in Madhya Narayanpur area of ​​Ballamjhar union in Gaibandha Sadar upazila, due to professional relations. Then, based on the relationship, he started visiting that area regularly. Gradually, he established relations with the people of the area and introduced himself as an official of a social organization. Using this opportunity, he started committing innovative fraud targeting the poor people of the area.

Maulana Shahidul Islam first installed tube wells with concrete footings in the houses of two families for just 200 taka. This created trust in him in the area. Then, he similarly installed tube wells in a total of 15 families by taking money from more than a hundred families for 200 to 500 taka.

Later, when the people who paid for the tube wells were disappointed when they did not get the tube wells, they started a new scam. This time, they said that they would be given a semi-pacca house, a tube well, a cow and a goat all at once. For this package, they charged 15,000 to 25,000 taka from each family.

Then, as construction work on some houses began, the locals’ trust grew even more. In the hope of getting a house, the poor people sold their goats and poultry, while others took loans at high interest rates and handed over the money to him. In return, they were given a sealed house named “Al Ansar Welfare Foundation Bangladesh” and a token for a tube well. But suddenly, all the work stopped. Shahidul Islam covered himself by only putting up roofs for the eight houses in progress.

Manjuara Begum, a victim from Jamtala area of ​​Madhya Narayanpur, said, “After seeing the tubewell being installed, we sold ducks and chickens and gave money to Shahidul Huzur in hopes of getting a house, but he ran away with the money.”

Sonavan Begum of the same village said, “We, the poor people of the area, have all given money to him to get a good house and are now in danger. Due to lack of money, we are not even able to repair the broken clock. The people through whom we gave money are also not able to find him.”

After the news of the accused’s escape spread, more horrifying information came out one after another. This fraud was carried out not only in one area but also throughout the district using the same tactic. In this incident, local Hafez Al Amin, who was also a middleman, was also a victim of fraud and many others. He has already filed a case against him.

Hafez Al Amin, Maulana Principal of Gaibandha Jamia Islamia Achma Mahila Madrasa, said, “He took the money of 366 people through me and gave them to the village through me by convincing me in various ways. He is not paying the money even after giving the date. I have filed a case against him for being forced to recover the money by extorting money from people.”

Meanwhile, despite several attempts to contact accused Shahidul Islam on his mobile phone, he did not answer the call.

Gaibandha Sadar Upazila Executive Officer Md. Lokman Hossain, urging everyone to be aware of such traps of temptation, said that legal action will be taken if anyone files a complaint on behalf of the victims.

It has been alleged that Maulana Shahidul Islam has embezzled around 150,000 taka from 15,000 to 25,000 taka from more than 1,000 families in various areas including Palashbari and Fulchhari upazilas, in addition to 366 people from Madhya Narayanpur in Sadar upazila.