ACC sues 93 over Tk 47cr UCB loan scam

The ACC has filed seven cases against 93 individuals over embezzling nearly Tk 47 crore in loans from various branches of United Commercial Bank using fake companies and nominal borrowers.

ACC officials filed the cases yesterday with the ACC Chattogram-1 Integrated District Office.

According to case statements, at least Tk 46.73 crore was siphoned off by opening current accounts in the names of farmers, day labourers and tailors from rural areas, falsely presenting them as business owners and securing loans under the names of non-existent firms.

ACC Deputy Director Subel Ahmed told The Daily Star that NID cards and other personal information of villagers were collected and misused to embezzle large sums through fake entities. The FIRs state that the loans were disbursed from the bank’s Chawkbazar, Pahartali, Port and Bahaddarhat branches by opening accounts in the names of non-existent firms such as Hossan Trading, Karnaphuli Emporium, Cats Eye Corporation, Shah Trading, etc. 

The commission said former top executives, branch managers and credit officials of the bank colluded to approve the loans using fake trade licences, forged documents and fabricated verification reports.

The FIRs also mentioned the alleged involvement of the bank’s former directors Anisuzzaman Chowdhury Rony and Bashir Ahmed.