By offering bricks at a low price, owner of a brick field has allegedly misappropriated about Taka five crore from more than 100 people in Ilshabari area under Chandipur Union of Naogaon sadar district.
The victims formed a human chain in front of Surma Brick Field demanding refund of their money and trial of brick-field owner Sabedul Islam alias Rony.
Presided over by Saidur Rahman, the human chain was addressed, among others, by former Chairman of Chandipur Union Parishad Bedaul Islam, AL leader of Chandipur union Dr Altaf Hossain, Mijanur Rahman of Mothermolla Khidirpur village, Mosharraf Hossain of Ilshabari village and Topesh Kumar of Tarapur village under Adamdighi upazila of Bogura.
All the people and their relatives present at the human chain were the victims of cheating by brick-field owner Sabedul Islam.
It is learnt, Sabedul Islam, owner of two brick-fields named Surma Bricks-1 and Surma Bricks-2 in 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023 took a huge amount of money in advance from many people of the surrounding villages by offering them bricks at a price lower than Tk 2,000 to 3,000 per 1,000 bricks than the regular prices. But, they were not supplied the bricks on various pleas. Getting no bricks according to the time mentioned in the contract of money receipts, the victims demanded refund of the money but they were not paid back any money. Saidur Rahman, resident of Ilshabari informed, he paid Taka 504,000 to brick field owner Sabedul Islam Rony to purchase 55,600 bricks on October 1 last year. According to the contract, he was supposed to get all bricks within one year. But, even after repeated requests, he was not supplied even a single piece of brick.
Meanwhile, for the last two months, the owner of the brick fields and manager escaped by suspending the manufacturing of bricks. Numbers of their mobile phones are also switched off. It is also learnt, Sabedul Islam is the incumbent Chairman of Patichora union under Patnitola upazila of Naogaon district. He also owns an organisation named Surma Multipurpose Cooperative Society.
Many of the branches of the Cooperative Society are also now closed. Many people also laid seize to offices of the Cooperative Society demanding refund of their money they invested there. They also submitted a written complaint to UNO of Naogaon sadar. Robin Shish, Upazila Nirbahi Officer of Naogaon Sadar upazila informed, he has received a written complaint in connection with misappropriation of money.
Action will be taken against responsible persons after investigation, he added.
