Ruling AL joint general secretary Mahabub-Ul-Alam Hanif on Friday demanded immediate arrest of Tanvir Mahmud, the managing director of the controversial Hallmark Group that swindled nearly Tk 3600 crore from the Sonali Bank.
Addressing a discussion organised by the Institute of Diploma Engineers Bangladesh at its office, Hanif  hoped that the swindled money would be retrieved within 15 days. 
He said that owner of the Hallmark Group should be sent to jail.
Minister without portfolio Suranjit Sengupta, addressing another meeting on Friday, said steps would be taken against the people involved in the Hallmark scam after proper investigation, and the swindled money would have to be returned to the government coffer.
‘The government will not hesitate to take action against those involved in this scam after conducting a proper investigation,’ said Suranjit.
He was addressing a discussion organised by Bangabandhu Sangskritik Jote on the occasion of 120th birth anniversary of Hossain Shaheed Suhrawardi in the capital.
The Ruposhi Bangla Hotel-branch of the Sonali Bank disbursed Tk 3,606 crore as loan to Hallmark Group and its other entities without maintaining banking rules.
In May, a central bank investigation revealed massive irregularities by the bank in sanctioning and disbursing the loans, especially to little-known Hallmark Group and others, and instructed it to take necessary action.
Some senior ruling Awami League lawmakers during the parliament session in the last two days demanded arrest of the people responsible for the Hallmark scam.
Responding to the lawmakers’ demand for arrest and filing of cases against the people involved in the scam, finance minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith on Thursday said as per his experience, cases could not be proved for lack of witnesses.