Controversial social worker Milton Samadder, founder of Child and Old Age Care, collected huge donations in the name of the old, disabled and sick people he brought to his care home from different places.
But instead of spending money on the welfare for the helpless people, Milton Samadder kept the donation money in his personal bank account.
Milton’s bank account still has a balance of Tk 1.85 crore. He never took sick people of his care home to any hospital for treatment.
Additional Commissioner Harun Or Rashid, chief of the Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), made the discloser while talking to reporters at the DB office on Minto Road in the capital on Sunday.
Arrested for fraud and other irregularities, Milton himself would perform surgery on sick people of his shelter home by amputating their hands and feet, said the DB chief.
Although Milton through advertisement on social media claimed that he had buried 900 bodies of the people of the care home, but he told police that he (Milton) had buried 100 bodies. The DB chief said Milton used to bring old, sick and people with disabilities from different places. He collected donations from the well-off, but did not spend money on these people. Instead, if they became sick, he would amputate their limbs in the name of treatment.
Harun Or Rashid said he mainly used social media for collecting money for ‘burial of shelter people and for taking care of the old, speech-impaired and other helpless people. The greater the number of burials, the greater the collection of money.
“Among the old and disabled children whose body parts were rotting, he used to cut off those parts with knives and blades. He cut off hands, feet and fingers of several old men. Milton took devilish pleasure by doing this cruel act,” said the DB chief.
He never took sick people to any hospital for treatment. Only a few knives and blades were found in Milton’s ‘operation room’ where he himself would perform surgery on the sick people.
The DB chief also said when questioned about burying 900 bodies, he (Milton) said that he had buried 100 people. However, he could not provide any evidence.
“Milton Samadder is a drug addict and psychopath. He used to beat people in the torture cell. How he became a philanthropist is not understandable,” said the DB chief.
He said Milton buried deceased people in the dark of night without a funeral. It is a serious crime. Whether they were actually buried or not will be investigated.”
Mitu Halder, wife of Milton Samadder, claimed that she knew nothing about Milton’s misdeeds under the guise of humanitarian service.
Mitu came to the DB office around 11:00 am on Sunday. She stayed there until 5:30 pm. DB police interrogated her several times.
After coming out from the DB office, in reply to a question from the reporters, she said, “I can’t say anything. The law will take action. I don’t know anything about him.”
DB sources said she claimed to be innocent during interrogation at the DB office. During the six-hour interrogation, Mitu told the DB that she did not spend time at Milton’s care home. She was busy with her job. Apart from this, the money collected for the care home does not have her name in anything.
However, Mitu cannot avoid the responsibility for her husband's misdeeds, said DB chief.
According to DB, they are inquiring about Mitu’s alleged involvement in Milton’s misdeeds. They are also trying to find out whether she is related to the organisation. She (Mitu) will be kept under watch until the investigation of this case is complete.
DB sources said Milton tortured the dependents in the torture cell. DB interrogated his wife Mitu after showing the horrible pictures there. But she has been claiming innocence since the beginning.
Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate on Sunday placed Milton on a four-day remand in a case filed with Mirpur police station on charge of human trafficking.
Magistrate Begum Shanta Akhter passed the order after police produced him before the court with a plea for seven-day remand.
Earlier on the day, Milton was produced before the court on completion of a three-day remand in another case filed over forging death certificates.
On Thursday, another Dhaka magistrate court granted a three-day remand to Milton in a fraudulence case.
Police arrested the Milton Samadder on May 1 for his suspected involvement in fraud and cheating.
Milton’s social activities through the care home are widely publicised through facebook. On facebook, it is seen that he serves the helpless people. He brings sick elderly people and vagabonds from the streets and gives shelter to them. He also collect donations from the affluent people to run the facilities.
However, a Bangla daily recently reported that he (Milton) as allegedly involved in misappropriating money through exaggerating the number of shelter seekers, deception and land grabbing.
