A businessman has raised an allegation against a man posing as a journalist of embezzling Tk 9.74 lakh in the name of ‘investment’ in an NGO.

The accused was identified as Abdul Awal Chowdhury Shipar, son of Abdul Malek Chowdhury of Kanaighat upazila of Sylhet.

Khasrul Islam Shamsul, a cloth trader of Rangmahal Tower in Bondorbazar, made the allegation at a press conference at Sylhet District Press Club on Tuesday.

Khasrul met Shipar while buying clothes six months ago. He introduced himself as a journalist.

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According to the allegation, several days after his acquaintance with Khasrul, Shipar advised him to invest in various foreign NGOs.

At one point, he introduced himself as the managing director of ‘Disable Rehabilitation Endeavor and Movement’ - Dream, an NGO. Later, he took Khasrul to an office in Mirpur of the capital and introduced him to Lutful Haider Chowdhury, a resident of Shahidbagh area of Dhaka. At that time, Lutful Haider Chowdhury also advised him to invest in their NGO.

NGOs usually have donors, not investors. But Khasrul was none the wiser. 

Following the advice, Khasrul handed over Tk 9.74 lakh to Shipar for investment in that NGO.

Shipar then cut off all communications. “And then I realized that Shipar and his associate had deceived me,” said Khasrul.

He alleged, “When I called Latful Haider Chowdhury after realizing that I had been deceived, he threatened me in various ways. Lastly, he also denied taking money from me.”

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Khasrul Islam said they have deceived many people in this way. Shipar used to work as an agent for Lutful Haider Chowdhury.

Khairul also sought the law enforcers’ cooperation to get back his money from the deceivers.