Directors of Sikder Group 'shot and tortured' Exim Bank MD over loan

Two directors of Sikder Group allegedly tried to kill Exim Bank's Managing Director (MD) Mohammad Haider Ali Mia and Additional MD Mohammad Firoz Hossain by shooting them for refusing to price the value of the directors'  mortgaged property at a higher level for a loan, according to a case filed by the bank authorities with Gulshan Police Station.

They also tortured the two senior bank officials confining them at a house in Banani and forced them to sign a white paper.

"A case has been filed with Gulshan police station on behalf of MD Mohammad Haider Ali Mia. We are trying to arrest the accused," Rafiqul Islam, assistant commissioner at Gulshan zone told The Business Standard.

Khandaker Nurul Afser, director of Exim bank, said, "The MD was not attending office for two weeks over the issue."

The accused are Ron Haque Sikder, the son of Sikder Group owner Joynal Sikder and also the managing director (MD) of the group, and his brother Dipu Haque Sikder. The two brothers have been on the run since the case was filed, reports Bangla daily Prothom Alo.

OC Quamruzzaman told The Business Standard they are trying to investigate whether the claim is authentic or not. "For investigation police team visited the accused residence several times but they were on the run since the incident took place," he added.

Deputy Commissioner of Gulshan Division Sudip Kumar Cakroborty told TBS they are trying to get Information about the two accused.

According to the case statement, the incident took place on May 7 and Exim Bank filed the case on May 19. 

The whole incident took place over a loan proposal of Tk500 crore. Haider Ali and Firoz Hossain were called in to inspect the mortgaged property in return for the loan. At that time, the bank officials mentioned that the mortgage value of the property was less as security. The Sikder Group directors, then, shot and beat the two bank officials, Prothom Alo added.