Some union leaders misuse Tk 262m: DB

Some leaders of Grameen Telecom Workers-Employees Union with the connivance of Grameen Telecom authority embezzled over Tk 262 million, said a high official of the Detective Branch (DB) of police on Sunday.
He said the DB police arrested Md Mainul Islam (39), vice-president of the union, due to his alleged involvement in embezzling the money along with others through adopting fraudulence tactics.
"We (the government) will take necessary actions as per investigation reports," additional commissioner of DB, Dhaka Metropolitan Police Mohammad Harun-or-Rashid told the media at a press briefing in the capital.
Md Mainul Islam was arrested by DB police from Mogbari area under Cumilla sadar on August 24. Two mobile sets, one laptop, and a cheque of over Tk 17 million were also recovered from him.
The DB official further said Md Kamruzzaman, president of the union, and Firoz Mahmud Hasan, its general secretary, were arrested on July 5 for their alleged involvement in embezzling the said money, owned by the employees and workers of the telecom company - to be paid as their dues.
They were arrested following the complaints, lodged by Mohammad Akteruzzaman -- finance secretary of the union -- at Mirpur Model Police Station on July 4, he added.
Earlier, an agreement was signed between Grameen Telecom and Grameen Telecom Workers-Employees Union on April 27 that led to opening of a settlement account at Dhaka Bank, Gulshan branch on May 10.
A total of Tk 4.37 billion (five per cent of the company's total profit along with four per cent annual interest on it from 2010 to 2022) was deposited in the settlement account for paying dues to the workers and employees of Grameen Telecom.
As per the agreement, Grameen Telecom managing director and the union president and general secretary were the signatories for withdrawal of money from the account.
All dues of the workers and employees of the telecom were supposed to be paid from the account.
But ignoring the set rules, the union president, vice-president and general secretary allegedly embezzled over Tk 262 million, the DB official noted.
Asked whether or not Dr Mohammad Younus was involved with this embezzlement, Mr Harun-or-Rashid said, "Primarily we think that he (Dr Younus) cannot avoid his responsibility."
"However, we will interrogate the arrestees more. We will discuss the matter with the high-ups. We will take action as per the outcome of investigation reports," he concluded.

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