State Minister for ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak on Wednesday said employees of the state-run postal department have stolen total Tk51 crore from people’s deposits and the department’s funds.

The Anti-Corruption Commission has been directed to take actions against the culprits as credible evidences have been found of about 11 such acts of corruption in the postal services, the state minister said at an event in the capital.

The government focus on corruption in the postal development has been sparked by a recent swindling incident where a woman lost Tk2 lakh deposited with the post office of Tanore upazila in Rajshahi district.

The woman named Parul committed suicide after failing to recover her money.

Following the tragedy, Palak organised campaigns in different upazilas of the country calling on locals to submit corruption complaints.

The successful campaign revealed that 51 more clients were made victims of financial fraud in Tanore upazila alone.

Palak further informed the audience at the event that the post and telecommunication ministry has decided to reduce the whooping Tk700 core losses of the postal department by cracking down on corruption and leasing out the department’s land and vehicles.

About 20 organisations have already shown interest in leasing land and vehicles, Palak noted.