Tk 98,000 Allegedly Embezzled in the Name of Family Cards; BNP Leader’s Wife Beaten When She Sought More Money

❐ Local correspondent

The wife of a BNP leader has been arrested and handed over to the police after being given a good-to-good grade for allegedly taking nearly one lakh taka from six marginalized people on the promise of getting government family cards.

After taunting them for about a month and a half, the woman demanded more money. After promising to give the remaining money, she was summoned to Ishwarganj, Mymensingh, on Tuesday afternoon and arrested.

It is said that the angry victims threw him to the ground and punched him.

The incident took place in front of the Agricultural Bank in Rayerbazar, Atharbari Union of the upazila, around 1 pm on Tuesday.

The arrested woman is named as Nargis Akhtar (36). She is the wife of BNP leader Khokon Ali of Mrigali village.

Upon receiving the information, the police rescued her and first took her to the Rayerbazar Investigation Center. Later in the afternoon, she was taken to the Upazila Nirbahi Officer’s office. In the evening, Nargis was handed over to Ishwarganj Police Station for legal action.

The victims are all residents of Dorua village in Kamargaon union of the neighboring Nandail upazila. They are Hosne Ara Begum (32), Rabeya Khatun (50), Josna Khatun (30), Asia Khatun (56), Tanni Akter Lima (35) and Kanak Mia (36).

According to the victims and locals, since they were already acquainted, the BNP leader’s wife Nargis Akhter told them that she could quickly get a government family card through influential local public representatives. Trusting her words, Rabeya Khatun paid 18,000 taka. The other five paid 16,000 taka each. In total, 98,000 taka was collected.

After receiving the money, Nargis kept them waiting for a month and a half under various pretexts.

Rabeya Khatun alleged that Nargis had used the influence of BNP leaders like Mizanur Rahman Alamgir, a member of Ward No. 3 of Atharbari Union, and Habibur Rahman, a member of Ward No. 7, to get the cards. But the victims were waiting without receiving the cards.

Recently, Nargis asked for another 4,000 taka. This made them suspicious. Later, after promising to pay the remaining 4,000 taka, she was summoned to Rayerbazar on Tuesday. When she reached there, she was arrested with the help of locals and handed over to the police.

Attempts were made to contact Ward 3 UP member Mizanur Rahman Alamgir on his mobile phone to inquire about the complaint, but it was found to be switched off.

Ward No. 7 member Habibur Rahman said he came to know about the matter last Monday. Realizing that Nargis was defrauding the common people using their names, he was called to Atharbari by promising to pay the money through the victims. Later, he was handed over to the police.

Ishwarganj Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Md. Sajjad Roman said that Nargis Akhter has been arrested on charges of embezzling money by promising to provide her with a government family card. She is currently being interrogated in police custody.

Necessary legal action is being taken, including regular filing of fraud cases based on the complaints of the victims.