Dhaka: The probe report on Bismillah Group loan scam is likely to be submitted to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) by this month.

 “We’ve already interrogated a number of people in connection with the loan scam. We’ve collected information from them regarding the scandal. More latest information are also coming,” an ACC inquiry officer told journalist on Friday preferring anonymity.

After scrutinising all the information, he said the corrupt people, who were involved in the criminal activities, will be identified and their names will be incorporated in the probe report. “We hope we’ll be able to submit the probe report to the commission within this month.”

Bismillah Group, a terry towel producer, allegedly swindled Tk 1,100 crore from five commercial banks showing fake documents.

ACC asked Bismillah Group chairman Nowrin Hasib and its managing director Khaja Sulaiman Anwar to be present at the ACC head office to face grilling on May 8. But, they did not appear before the commission as they were said to have fled the country.

As the two top officials of Bismillah Group went into hiding, the probe report will be prepared without questioning them, the ACC inquiry officer said.

On February 26, the anti-graft body formed a five-member inquiry team to probe the alleged plundering of about Tk 1,100 crore from five banks.

According to a Bangladesh Bank report, Bismillah Group swindled about Tk 1,100 crore from state-run Janata Bank and four private commercial banks — Prime Bank, Shahjalal Islami Bank, Jamuna Bank and Premier Bank -– showing fake export documents, taking government’s cash incentive to open business firms abroad and with accommodated bills through Letters of Credit (LCs).

The business group swindled Tk 392.57 crore from Janata Bank, Tk 306.22 crore from Prime Bank, Tk 163.69 crore from Jamuna Bank, Tk 148.69 crore from Shahjalal Islami Bank and Tk 62.97 from Premier Bank.

Ends/AMA/12/07/13