NGO Scam in Paikgachha 300 Families Lose Tk 3 Crore

An unregistered NGO has allegedly disappeared after defrauding low-income individuals of approximately Tk 3 crore with false promises of doubling their investments. At least 300 families in Paikgachha, Khulna, are facing severe financial distress after the sudden closure of the 'Health Education and Environment Development Society (Dheu)'. The distraught depositors are now desperately appealing to authorities to recover their lost savings.

A Family-Run Syndicate

According to local complaints, Sukanti Sarkar of Darun Mallik village established 'Dheu' in 2006. Victims allege the NGO operated as a family-run embezzlement scheme under the guise of public welfare. The organization's committee consisted entirely of family members: Sukanti's brother, Avanti Sarkar, served as president; his wife, Pushpa Rani Sarkar, as vice-president; his nephew, Madhusudan, as cashier; and his sister, Banani Sarkar, as organizing secretary. Depositors claim this tight-knit group exploited their trust to loot funds without any internal accountability.

Assets Built on Depositor Funds

Residents point to a luxurious two-story building owned by NGO Chief Sukanti Sarkar as evidence of the embezzlement. The building, which also served as the organization's head office, was allegedly constructed using the misappropriated deposits of over 300 local residents. Victims are now urging the local administration to investigate the property and trace the origin of the funds used to build it.

The Disappearance and Legal Loopholes

The organization collected funds primarily through high-yield DPS and FDR schemes. The victims include Mukherjee (Tk 5 lakh), Deepak Roy (Tk 2.5 lakh), Milan Goldar (Tk 6 lakh), and Shiuli Goldar (Tk 75,000), alongside hundreds of local women who deposited their life savings. When these deposits matured, the NGO repeatedly delayed repayment. Recently, Executive Director Sukanti Sarkar disappeared. Victims strongly suspect that a 'missing diary' (GD) filed at Dhaka's Jatrabari Police Station is a deliberate legal ploy to help him evade justice.

Urgent Call for Administrative Action

Defrauded depositors are demanding immediate intervention from local authorities. They urge law enforcement to arrest Sukanti Sarkar and his family members, thoroughly interrogate them, and confiscate their movable and immovable assets to ensure the swift return of the stolen Tk 3 crore to the marginalized families.

Protests and Deflection

On Saturday morning (June 6), angry depositors formed a large human chain outside the NGO's office. Chaired by local teacher Gaur Sundar Sarkar, protesters expressed their outrage and warned of stricter actions if the administration fails to arrest the culprits immediately.

When contacted by phone, 'Dheu' President Avanti Sarkar cited illness and avoided responsibility for the missing funds. He told reporters, "Whatever you write about the matter, please ensure that no harm comes to me and my family." For the victims who have lost their life savings, this deflection has only fueled further anger.