The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

The holders of the looted safe deposit lockers at Dhanmondi branch of BRAC Bank Ltd yesterday demanded of the bank authorities for providing full compensation for their losses.

They also blamed poor security measures of the bank for the burglary demanding a thorough investigation into the incident.

Hirers of most of the looted lockers thronged the bank at Sukrabad in the city yesterday morning. Some 30 to 40 customers assembled inside the bank by 10:00am. Some of them rushed to the bank reading news of the locker heist in the newspapers and watching the news on the televisions. Witnessing their lockers open they started crying and wailing inside the bank.

Besides, many of the locker holders expressed their willingness to the bank authorities to surrender their lockers.

Fatima Rahim, a garment owner, rushed to the bank in the morning. She said there are two lockers-one is of her and the other of her daughter living in Canada. "I've come to take back the valuables kept in my daughter's locker, but two officials of the bank are not allowing me to open the locker. Rather, they suggested me to submit a written request and they will contact with me later on," she said.

"The vault of my residence is more safe than the safe deposit lockers at BRAC Bank although I was told that the locker was safe and secure when I hired it one year ago. But, I don't feel anymore convenient to keep my valuables here," she said.

The burglars on Monday took away gold ornaments, diamonds and other valuables breaking 75 safe deposit lockers at the Dhanmondi branch of BRAC Bank.

Addressing a press conference at the National Press Club in the afternoon, the hirers of lockers said the bank authorities did not take adequate measures to protect the lockers.

There were no armed security and emergency alarm to guard the valuables, they said.

The bank officials "misbehaved with us when we wanted to know about the burglary," they said.

Rezwana Khukumoni, who was the first locker holder to reach the bank branch after the burglary, said she went to the bank at about 11:00am on Monday and wanted to check her locker (No. 87) where she kept about 85 bhories of gold and an expensive pearl necklace of her mother.

Soon after opening the door of the vault, she said, a bank official told her that she could not go inside the locker room without showing any reason.

Rezwana said that when she wanted to know the reason, the bank official replied that they are putting some extra lockers that's why they cannot allow her to enter the locker room. "Nothing to worry, you're 100 per cent secured," she quoted the bank official as saying.

The locker holders said that the bank authorities agreed to give compensation for the 75 looted lockers within the next 90 days.

Rabet Khan, holder of locker No. 36, said the bank authorities should not avoid the responsibilities, as all the lockers remained under their protection.

Blaming the bank officials, some of the locker holders alleged that unscrupulous officials of the bank might be involved with the robbery as the burglars made a big hole in the roof using drilling machine for several days. "How is it that none could hear the drilling machine at work? And how did the burglars found the exact location of the lockers," they asked.

The victims of the locker burglary urged the caretaker government and the Bangladesh Bank to take stern action against those responsible for the burglary after fair investigation.

Meanwhile, hirers of the looted lockers yesterday thronged the BRAC Bank at Dhanmondi in the morning. Witnessing the missing of their valuables, they burst into tears and started wailing.

They were also appealing to the members of law enforcing agencies to help recover their looted valuables. "Please, take initiatives to recover our missing valuables. We've turned paupers," one of the victims said.

However, normal transactions continued yesterday at the bank. Most of the bank officials were found busy with their routine works. Witnessing this some of the hirers of looted lockers expressed their resentment. "We've lost everything. At least, we can expect good manners from the bank officials," another hirer of a locker said.