MoF summons SoCBs\\\' chiefs over repeated bank heists

Concerned about the security of public money following burglaries in bank branches, the ministry of finance (MoF) has summoned the chief executives of state-owned commercial banks (SoCBs).
The chief executives would have to appear before the MoF high-ups Monday (today) to answer queries about steps taken to ensure security of vaults at bank branches.
"We had issued an order to ensure security of bank vaults across the country after the vulgarly in Sonali Bank's Kishoreganj branch. But it appears that none paid heed to our instruction," a senior official of the MoF told the FE Sunday.
He said the CEOs would have to answer many queries, as a similar incident happened at the Sonali Bank branch at Adamdighi in Bogra Thursday or Friday night. The burglars took away Tk 3.25 million (32.5 lakh) from the branch's vault where they reached by digging a tunnel. Police so far arrested 10 people, including branch manager Shamsuddin Sharif, and cashier Ajharul Islam in this connection.
In a similar incident on January 26 last burglars took away Tk 169 million (16.9 crore) from the Kishoreganj branch of Sonali bank by digging a tunnel.
The MoF in a separate order Sunday also asked the Sonali Bank administration to take stern action, on proper investigation, against the branch manager and others for negligence to ensure security of the vault.
Besides, heads of the SoCBs have also been instructed to take steps for submitting detailed information to police stations about owners of houses and shops adjacent to the bank branches.
"If police have details about the people living near the bank branches, they will be able to take immediate steps, if any such incident happens," the MoF official added.
He said the meeting at the MoF would discuss security measures and how to upgrade bank vault management, as two incidents in nearly one and a half months raised questions about security of public money.
"Such incidents, due to negligence of bank officials, are in no way acceptable," the official added.
UNB adds from Bogra: Two committees have been formed to investigate the looting of Tk 3.25 million (32.51 lakh) from the Sonali Bank Adamdighi branch in Adamdighi upazila.
Besides, bank branch manager Shamsuddin Sharif and cahier Ajharul Islam were transferred to a Bagura branch who will have to discharge their duties under police escort.
Nazrul Islam, officer-in-charge of Adamdighi Police Station, said a five-member divisional probe committee, headed by General Manager of Rajshahi Region Afzal Hossain, was formed to probe the incident.
The other members are Sonali Bank Rajshahi Divisional Director General Manager Subal Chandra, AGM Taiyabur Rahman, Senior Executive Office Rafiqul Islam and Shahjahan Ali.
The other three-man committee was constituted headed by Bangladesh Bank Deputy General Manager Martuja Ali.
Meanwhile, police on Sunday arrested nine people, including the branch manager, in connection with the burglary.
The arrested are branch manager Shamsuddin Sharif, cahier Ajharul Islam, security guard Ruhul Amin, welding factory owner Abdul Latif and four carpenters -- Nazrul Islam, Shariful Islam, Wahed Ali and Mridul -- and an Ansar member who resigned a few days.
With this, a total of 13 people have so far been arrested in connection with the bank looting.
Police arrested two guards of the bank, and an employee and the furniture shop owner on Saturday suspecting their involvement in the incident.
Meanwhile, police on Saturday night recovered Tk 0.17 million from the tunnel which the burglars dug to loot money from the Sonali Bank branch.
Gas cylinder and machines for breaking the vault were also recovered from the spot.
Deputy General Manager of Sonali Bank Bogra zone Abdus Salam filed a case with Adamdighi police station against some unknown people in this connection.
Barely in one and a half months of similar incident in Kishoreganj, burglars in a filmy style looted Tk 3.25 million from another branch of Sonali Bank here after digging a tunnel into its vault.