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Hall-Mark Scam

Take punitive action against perpetrators

Urges Hanifi Suranjit assures of steps

Staff Correspondent
Ruling Awami League Joint General Secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanifyesterday demanded that the government arrests and takes punitive measures against the persons involved in the Hall-Mark scam no matter how "powerful" those persons may be.
Meanwhile, Minister without portfolio Suranjit Sengupta said the government would not hesitate to take all sorts of action, including criminal proceedings, against people involved in the Hall-Mark scam after investigation.
Previously, a Bangladesh Bank investigation found that the Ruposhi Bangla Hotel branch of Sonali Bank had lent Hall-Mark Group and five other companies Tk3,547 crore between 2010 and May this year on forged documents.
Of the loan, Hall-Mark Group alone tookTk2,686.14 crore.
Addressing a discussion in the capital's Institution of Diploma Engineers, Bangladesh, Mahbubul said, “I will ask Bangladesh Bank and Sonali Bank to take punitive measures against the persons involved in the scam along with the owners of Hall-Mark after arresting them.”
Mahbubul, also a special assistant to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, held main opposition BNP responsible for the recent crisis in Buet.
"We have informationthatBNP instigated theBuetcrisis,”hesaid.
About corruption allegations made by BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir against the government, the AL leader said BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia was a corrupt person as she whitened black money by giving fines.
In his address at a discussion, Suranjit said, “The prime minister took a strict stance against the scam and is determined to refund the swindled money to the state exchequer.”
The discussion was organised by Bangabandhu Sangskritik Jote, a pro-liberation cultural platform, marking Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy's 120th birth anniversary in the Central Public Library auditorium in the capital's Shahbagh.
The veteran parliamentarian said Finance Minister AMA Muhith set “a shining example of democracy” by apologising for his recent remarks on the scam.
"Through his simple confession, the finance minister enriched the country's democracy. It could be an example to others,” said Suranjit.
Facing criticism both in and outside parliament, Muhith on Thursday made an apology for his remarks on the Sonali Bank loan scam that the money swindled by Hall-Mark Group was a paltry amount.
Suranjit also alleged that the opposition party was trying to take benefits out of the much-talked-about scam.
Addressing the programme, Industries Minister Dilip Barua alleged that a vested quarter was trying to create anarchy in the country over the Grameen Bank issue and urged people to unite to tackle the conspiracy.
State Minister for Law Qamrul Islam, Krishak League Vice-President MA Karim and Janata Bank Director Balaram Poddar spoke at the programme with the jote General Secretary Arun Sarkar Rana in the chair.