Islami Bank has issued a rejoinder over media reports about gold ornaments "vanishing" from one of the lockers from its Chawkbazar branch in Chattogram.
On 1 June, several media outlets ran reports saying client's 149 bhori of gold, worth approximately Tk1.5 crore, had allegedly gone missing from a locker at Islami Bank's Chawkbazar Branch in Chattogram.
Following the report, Islami Bank issued a statement on Sunday (2 June) to address the issue.
Islami Bank's statement reads:
Rokeya Akter Bari and her daughter, Nasia Marjuka, customers of Islami Bank's Chawkbazar Branch in Chattogram, have been jointly using a bank locker since 2006. Each locker requires two keys to open: One held by the customer and the other by the bank. It is impossible to open the locker without both keys. According to banking rules, only the customer has access to the contents and the amount stored in the locker.
The key cannot be taken out until the locker is closed by the holder. The bank has no way of knowing what the customer has taken or left in the locker. Once the customer leaves, bank officials immediately closes the main gate of the locker room as per the rules.
On 29 May, Rokeya Akhtar Bari opened her locker and reported that her jewelry was missing. Initially, she claimed 300 bhori of gold was missing. Later, she revised her statement saying that 150 bhori was missing, and subsequently stated that she found half of the 150 bhori, with the other half still missing. She provided contradictory and misleading information. Shortly after, officers from the Chawkbazar Police Station inspected the locker room.
In response, the bank authorities have formed a three-member probe committee to verify the authenticity of the customer's complaint. Based on the committee's report, the bank will take further action. Legal measures have also been initiated by the bank in this regard.
However, the client, Rokeya Akter Bari, claims that it was a theft and bank officials were involved.
