ACC sues Padma Bank MD, 10 others

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has filed a case against 11 people, including the current managing director (MD) of Padma Bank (formerly Farmers Bank) Faisal Ahsan Chowdhury, on the charge of embezzling Tk 10 crore through loan fraudulence in Chattogram.

Assistant director of ACC Chittagong district office-1 Enamul Haque filed the case Monday for embezzling the money after taking it as a loan through fraudulence.

Other accused in the case are former chairman of the Farmers Bank's (currently Padma Bank) Audit Committee Mahbubul Haque Chishti alias Babul Chishti, former SVP of Padma Bank's Khatunganj Branch Md Shaukat Osman Chowdhury, former SEO and Operation Manager Md Anwar Hossain, managing director of SB Auto Bricks Industries Limited Md Sagir Chowdhury, owner of Messrs Alam Enterprises Md Abu Alam, his wife Parveen Akhter, managing director of National Survey Limited Md Majedul Islam, and former additional managing director of Padma Bank AKM Shamim, former managing director Chowdhury Mostak Ahmad and former vice chairman of Executive Committee Dr Athar Uddin.

According to the case statement, Farmers Bank Limited gave Tk 24 crore as a loan in two phases to the managing director of SB Auto Bricks Industries Limited Md Sagir Chowdhury against the mortgage of a piece of land in Chattogram.

He was given Tk 14 crore in the first phase against the mortgage and later he took Tk 10 crore again against the same mortgage. 

According to ACC official, the accused misused the power of mutual agreement and provided the loan of Tk 10 crore in addition to the earlier loan of Tk 14 crore despite knowing that the value of the forced sale of the mortgaged property is lower than the loan amount.