Son’s nails pulled out and tortured with hammer inside Islami Bank for father’s agent banking money

Local correspondent

A school teacher was allegedly held captive in the storeroom of an Islami Bank branch in Khulna’s Fultala, blindfolded and tried to pull out his nails with a hammer and pliers. He is currently undergoing treatment at Khulna Medical College Hospital in serious condition. A case has been filed at the police station in this incident and the police have arrested three bank officials.

The arrested persons are Ashiq, Mizan and Mamun. They are officials of the Fultala branch of Islami Bank.

All three are known to be directly involved in Jamaat-e-Islami politics.

The victim, Saifullah Hajeri (35), is a teacher at Belepukur Secondary School in Fultala Upazila. His father, AHM Shafiullah Hajeri, is the proprietor of an agent banking outlet of Islami Bank (M/s Hajeri Enterprises).

Saifullah said that when he recently went to the bank, 4-5 officers blindfolded him, took him to the store room, and beat him on the soles of his feet and knees with a hammer. At one point, they tried to pull out his nails with pliers. Later, they made him sign a blank piece of paper, a check, and a stamp.

Police said that recently, cash in-charge Mahbubur Rahman and marketing officer Monirul Gazi embezzled about 4 million taka from Shafiullah Hajeri’s agent bank and fled. An investigation committee was formed from the bank’s central office in this incident. It is alleged that Saifullah was summoned and tortured on Tuesday afternoon, July 22.

After the incident, the zonal office and branch manager of Islami Bank went to the hospital to see the injured Saifullah. However, although there was an initial attempt to cover up the incident, a case was registered at the police station after the police intervened.

Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Fultala Police Station Md. Jellal Hossain said, “The victim’s maternal uncle has filed a case with the police station regarding the torture in the bank. We have already arrested three bank officials – Ashiq, Mizan and Mamun. The investigation is ongoing.”

Anisur Rahman, manager of Islami Bank’s Fultala branch, said, “I was not in the bank at the time of the incident. An investigation is underway. If anyone is involved, action will be taken.”