Society manager vanishes with nearly Tk 22 lakh saved by over 400 women, human chain in Khoksa

Photo: Collected

Amina Khatun, a beggar by occupation, is an elderly woman from Paikpara Mirzapur village in Shimulia union of Kushtia’s Khoksa upazila. Lamenting the loss of her savings, she said, ‘I am a helpless woman. I have kidney problems. I saved this money all this time by begging, with great difficulty. Now they won’t give it back. The previous UNO said he would get the money returned. But that was just talk; I am still not getting the money. If I got the money, I would have a kidney operation.’

Amina claims she had kept money with the ‘Shakti Savings and Credit Cooperative Society’ for about 10 years, and that the society’s manager, Fatema Khatun, has gone into hiding with those savings.

Amina said that although she deposited two to five taka at a time at first, she later saved at the rate of Tk 1,000 a week. By June 2022, the balance in her account had reached Tk 1.66 lakh.

Moriom Khatun of Manikkat village in Khoksa was also cheated after keeping money with the same society. In her words, ‘I joined this society in 2004. We are all poor people. At first we saved two taka a week. Later five taka, and then 10 taka. By 2022 I had saved Tk 1 lakh. I hoped to spend the money on my daughter’s wedding. But before that, Fatema ran away with the money. I want justice for this.’

These two are not the only victims. Manager Fatema Khatun, whose husband is Mahfuzur Rahman of the area, has disappeared with nearly Tk 22.30 lakh saved by the society’s women members in Khoksa upazila, who number more than 400. Members further allege that her husband, Mahfuzur Rahman, has also gone into hiding with Fatema, along with the society’s money.

At noon on Monday (12 October), several hundred affected women formed a human chain in front of the main gate of the upazila parishad in Khoksa, demanding the return of their savings. They then handed a memorandum to Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Khalid Bin Mansur.

The victims said that, scrimping on household expenses, some deposited money from begging and others from selling duck and chicken eggs or rice, putting in two, five or 10 taka at a time. By saving this way year after year, many had built up a nest egg. They kept the money thinking it would come in handy in future emergencies or for household needs. Some planned to cover the cost of a daughter’s wedding, others to buy furniture for their homes. Having lost those savings, they are now at a loss.

It is learnt that women of the Paikpara Mirzapur area together formed the ‘Shakti Savings and Credit Cooperative Society’ in 2004. After meeting household expenses, members deposited anything from two taka to Tk 1,000 a week. The responsibility for keeping the society’s accounts and running it lay with Fatema Khatun, wife of local resident Mahfuzur Rahman.

Members allege that, taking advantage of their trust, Fatema went into hiding on 25 June 2022 with nearly Tk 22.30 lakh deposited with the society.

A meeting was held on the matter at the Upazila Nirbahi Officer’s office on 8 October 2025. According to the victims, at that meeting Fatema gave a written pledge on Tk 300 stamp paper that she would repay the money within six months. But with the deadline passed and the money still not returned, they took to a human chain again and submitted a memorandum to the UNO. They demanded the swift return of their savings and punishment for the accused, Fatema.

Mina Khatun, one of the affected members, said, ‘I saved two or five taka at a time by selling duck and chicken eggs and rice. About Tk 22,000 had been deposited. But Fatema ran away with all the money. We want justice against her, and we want our money back.’

The society’s president, Taslima Sultana, said, ‘Fatema is a teacher. Trusting her in good faith, we made her manager and deposited our money with her. But she cheated us and ran away with nearly Tk 22.30 lakh deposited by more than 400 members. After the human chain, we submitted a memorandum to the UNO demanding proper justice.’

Upazila Nirbahi Officer Khalid Bin Mansur confirmed receiving the memorandum. He said, ‘Fatema did not return the customers’ money even after giving her word before. This time legal action will be taken.’