The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has summoned 16 senior officials of National Bank PLC for questioning as part of its investigation into an alleged Tk 226 million (Tk 22.60 crore) transaction carried out after banking hours.

According to an ACC letter issued from its headquarters, the officials have been instructed to appear in person on August 4 to provide statements. The information was confirmed on Monday (August 3) from a letter signed by ACC Deputy Director Md. Mostafizur Rahman.

The investigation concerns allegations of the illegal withdrawal of funds involving Messrs Impact Construction Company Limited.

Those summoned include Ashraf Uddin Ahmed, Senior Vice President (SVP) of the bank’s Dilkusha Branch; Company Secretary Md. Qaiser Rashid; Executive Vice President (EVP) and Banani Branch Manager Alok Kumar Biswas; Banani Branch SVP Khan Muhammad Moeed Aziz; Kazi Kamal Uddin Ahmed; Hosne Akter Chowdhury; Md. Moniruzzaman; Zahir Uddin Ahmed; SVP Ashish Kumar Laskar; Vice President Arun Kumar Halder; Selima Akter; Rafiqul Alam; Murshed Kamal; Abu Zakaria; Vice President Muniram Chandra; and EVP Zahirul Islam.

According to ACC sources, the High Court had earlier summoned the manager of National Bank’s Gulshan Corporate Branch to explain a Tk 226 million transaction conducted after 8:00 pm on February 20, 2023. The court also directed the bank to take action against those involved. Following the court’s directive, the ACC launched a formal inquiry.

Investigators said that on December 28, 2022, Tk 226 million in cash was disbursed from the Gulshan Corporate Branch after 8:00 pm to Ali Haider Ratan, proprietor of Infratech Construction Company Limited.

Earlier that afternoon, the bank’s board approved the renewal of the company’s loan. The approval decision was sent to the branch at 6:50 pm, after which the cash was withdrawn between 8:23 pm and 9:04 pm.

At the bank’s 475th board meeting held on the same day, a proposal to renew Infratech Construction Company’s loan was approved despite noting that the company had opened letters of credit exceeding its limit by Tk 478.5 million and had defaulted on loans with other banks.

Investigators believe that the loan renewal enabled the company to withdraw Tk 226 million, a transaction now under scrutiny as part of the ACC’s investigation.