Sunlife policyholders blaming field workers for not receiving insurance money

Staff Correspondent: 'Grandma, don’t cry'- amid the pressure and humiliation from people over unpaid policyholders’ dues, Sunlife Insurance field worker Salma Begum received this consolation from her granddaughter. She has been associated with the company for a long time. Many policyholders who took insurance through her have not received their money, and now she has to endure their anger and insults.

To share her suffering, Salma Begum came to Dhaka from Sonargaon in Narayanganj on Wednesday (16 September). She was not alone. More than a hundred policyholders and field workers from different parts of the country held a human chain in front of the office of the Insurance Development and Regulatory Authority (IDRA) demanding payment of outstanding insurance dues. After the programme, they submitted a memorandum to the IDRA Chairman.

During the human chain, Salma Begum said that even after the maturity of policies, many policyholders have not received their money and are now holding her responsible.

“They call us frauds and cheats. We cannot go to markets or anywhere. We are insulted and humiliated wherever we go,” said Salma.

She also said the situation has affected her family life. Under the pressure of people, her granddaughter once hugged her and said, “Grandma, don’t cry, Grandma.”

Maya, who came from Barishal, shared similar sufferings. She claimed that her insurance policy matured in 2021, but she has still not received her due amount of 6 lakh taka. After her husband’s death, she is struggling financially with her child.

“My husband has passed away. I have one child,” said Maya. There is no other earning member in the family. She said she came to Dhaka from Barishal by spending on transport costs in the hope of receiving her due money.

Other policyholders and field workers who participated in the human chain made the same complaint. According to them, even after a long time has passed since the maturity of many policyholders’ policies, the money is not being paid. Despite repeatedly contacting the company, they are only given new dates and assurances.

Ataur Rahman Sajib, who came from Noakhali, said that the money of many policyholders in his area is stuck. He also alleged that a case of extortion was filed against him for speaking on behalf of the policyholders. He claimed that after discussing the policyholders’ dues at Sunlife’s head office, a case was filed against him in court.

In the memorandum submitted to the IDRA Chairman, the policyholders and field workers claimed that they are owed approximately 200 crore taka across the country. In addition, policyholders hold matured cheques worth about 6 crore taka whose amounts have not yet been received.

The memorandum further alleged that without the permission of many policyholders, 30% or 50% of their insurance dues have been deducted and kept as FDR (fixed deposit in a bank for a specific period). However, cheques for the remaining amounts have not yet been issued.

The memorandum also made allegations against Rafiqul Islam, who is in charge of the company’s finance and accounts department.

Policyholders and workers claimed that although he gave various dates for payment of the money, the payments were not made on those dates. Although assurances were given that the problem would be resolved after discussions with the company’s owners, no solution has been reached so far, the memorandum stated.

In the memorandum, the policyholders and field workers put forward three demands:
1. Prompt payment of dues to policyholders whose policies have matured,
2. Prompt issuance of cheques for the remaining amounts after deducting money as FDR, and
3. Prompt payment of the amounts of previously issued insurance claim cheques.

The demonstrators said that even after waiting for a long time without receiving the money, they want IDRA’s intervention.

They also said that if the demands are not met, further programmes such as a human chain in front of the National Press Club and contacting the Ministry of Finance may be organised.