BRAC staff bashes customer's head over tk 3,000 installment

A field organizer of the non-governmental development organization 'BRAC' has been accused of beheading a female customer over a dispute over loan installment money in Sadullapur, Gaibandha. The incident took place in the upazila's Dhaperhat union on Wednesday afternoon (May 6). The injured customer is currently undergoing treatment at the Pirganj Upazila Health Complex.

The injured borrower is named Lucky Begum. She is the wife of Mintu Mia of Palanpara village in Dhaperhat union.

On the other hand, the accused NGO worker is named Salma Begum, and she works as a field organizer at BRAC's Dhaperhat branch.

According to the victim's family and local sources, Lucky Begum had taken a loan of 30,000 taka from BRAC's Dhaperhat branch. Some of the loan installment money is still outstanding. Lucky Begum went to the Dhaperhat BRAC office and got into an argument and fight with field worker Salma over the money she owed around 11am on Wednesday (May 6).

At one point, Salma hit Lucky Begum on the head with a stick lying nearby. Lucky's head cracked and she suffered a bloody wound. Later, locals rescued her and admitted her to the hospital.

Mintu Mia, the husband of the injured Lucky Begum, said that almost all the money of the loan had been paid, only 1,500 taka was owed. Field worker Salma smashed his wife's head for that small amount of money.

However, the accused field organizer Salma Begum admitted to the beating but claimed self-defense. She said that the borrower owed Lucky Begum 3,000 taka for a long time and a half. She had been trying to give him the money and then giving it to him. Today, Lucky and her husband beat her indiscriminately because she wanted the money. At that time, Lucky Begum was injured when she hit him with a stick lying nearby in self-defense.

In this regard, BRAC District Coordinator (Small Loans) Mosharraf Hossain said, "That member took a loan in 2024, but did not repay Tk 3,000. This unwanted incident occurred at a stage of arguments and fights between both parties over the outstanding money, which is not desirable at all."

In this regard, Sub-Inspector (SI) in-charge of the Dhapeerhat Police Investigation Center, Supad Halder said that both parties have filed written complaints in this incident. The matter is currently under investigation. Necessary legal action will be taken after the investigation.