Four remanded in Tk20c overseas study fraud case

Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Ariful Islam passed the order after a hearing.

A Dhaka court on Thursday placed four officials of two education consultancy firms on remand in a case over the alleged embezzlement of nearly Tk20 crore by falsely promising to send students abroad for higher education. Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Ariful Islam passed the order after a hearing.

The accused are Mohammad Harun Or Rashid alias Matiur Rahman, Rabeya Khatun Tania, Saidur Rahman and Tanzir Islam. The court granted four days' remand for Tania and five days each for the remaining three.

In the same case, another accused, Mohammad Mashayer Rahman Antor, confessed to the allegations and gave a statement before Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Ripon Hossain under Section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.

Sub-Inspector (SI) Md Kamal Hossain of the prosecution division confirmed the matter.

Investigating officer Sub-Inspector Md Billal Bhuiyan of Bhatara Police Station had sought seven days' remand for the accused. State prosecutor Golam Mortuza Ibne Islam argued in favour of the plea. After hearing both sides, the court granted the remand.

Tension flared on the court premises as the accused were produced under police escort. Aggrieved students shouted abuse and attempted to attack them while they were being taken into the courtroom.

According to the case statement, Visa Guide collected money from students by promising to secure student visas and send them abroad within four months.

The complaint alleges that Just Thought Education Consultant later collected Tk8.38 crore from 91 students at different times but failed to send any of them abroad within the promised period.

When the students later contacted the firm's office, they were assured that their student and family visa applications were being processed. However, none was ultimately sent abroad, and the accused allegedly misappropriated nearly Tk20 crore collected from the victims.