NGO takes housewife’s jewellery for non-payment of instalments in Bagerhat

In Chitalmari, Bagerhat, a housewife has accused staff of a non-governmental organisation (NGO) of taking her ring, nose stud and brass bracelet. According to the complaint, an NGO worker recorded the ring as 8,000 taka and the bracelet as 1,500 taka in the passbook as payment for non-repayment of loan instalments.

On Saturday, November 8, a video of the housewife spread on social media platform Facebook, causing an uproar in the area.

However, officials of the concerned NGO claimed that the housewife voluntarily handed over her jewellery and bracelet.

The complainant, Shraboni Hira, 22, said she had taken a loan of 40,000 taka from the Chitalmari branch of DFED (Dum Foundation for Economic Development).

With interest, she was required to repay 45,120 taka. Some instalments were remaining, and since her husband was away for work, repayment was not possible.

Shraboni alleged that on October 29 at 10 am, NGO staff summoned her from home and took her to the office. There, she and her three-year-old daughter were locked in a room. Later in the afternoon, the staff made her sign two blank stamps by force and took her ring, nose stud and brass bracelet, and the incident was recorded on video.

Shraboni said, ‘I was locked up and intimidated. My daughter was crying from hunger, but I could not say anything.’

When asked about the matter, Basudeb Debnath, manager of DFED Chitalmari branch, said, ‘The housewife Shraboni was a defaulter on her instalments. I have heard about taking her nose stud. The incident will be investigated.’