TDS Desk:

At least 12,000 bhori of gold has gone missing from Samabaya Bank Limited, local government and rural development adviser AF Hasan Arif claimed on Sunday.

He said, “Authorities cannot find Bangladesh Samabaya Bank Ltd’s assets worth 12,000 bhori gold”.

The adviser made the revelation at the 57th annual planning conference of the Bangladesh Academy of Rural Development (BARD) held at the organisation’s office in Cumilla.

Hasan Arif said that cooperative society members across the country are busy only in exercising influence and joining committees, with little concern for ensuring the proper functionality of cooperatives.

They have little knowledge or concern about the missing gold and other issues plaguing the Samabaya Bank including illegal grabbing of its properties by vested parties, Hasan Arif said.

He, however, lauded the initiatives taken by BARD since its founding for the welfare of rural communities, adding LGED, Upazil Complex and BRDB are fruits of BARD’s efforts.

The state-run Samabaya Bank allows the country’s nearly 1.15 crore cooperative society members to deposit their savings and also take loans for rural business or development schemes. Apart from banking, it also conducts cooperative activities for the welfare of rural areas.

The specialised bank has been plagued by repeated financial scandals over the course of its history.