Fresh tensions erupted outside the head office of Islami Bank Bangladesh in Dhaka’s Motijheel this morning (1 June) as police dispersed protesting customers who demanded the cancellation of the appointment of the bank’s new chairman.
Hundreds of customers, under the banner of the “Conscious Customers Forum,” formed a human chain in front of Islami Bank Tower from early morning, calling for the resignation of the newly appointed chairman, Khurshid Alam.
During the protest, police used water cannons, sound grenades, tear gas, and baton charges to disperse the demonstrators.
Chases and counter-chases were also reported in the area.
Meanwhile, several protesters were reportedly injured in the police baton charge. On the other hand, a number of police personnel were also said to have been injured after being hit by bricks and stones allegedly thrown by demonstrators.
Speaking to The Business Standard, Hussein Muhammad Farabi, assistant commissioner of police of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s Motijheel Zone, said several hundred customers had been in front of Islami Bank Tower since dawn, demanding that the bank’s new chairman not be allowed to join.
“Their claim is that if this chairman joins, their deposits will be at risk. We requested them to leave, but they did not comply. Later, at around 9:15am, we used water cannons, sound grenades, and tear gas shells to remove the protesters from the area,” he said.
Farabi added, “They have now moved from in front of Islami Bank Tower and taken positions in nearby alleys. Police have cordoned off the area in front of the bank headquarters.”
The protest comes after a change in the bank’s leadership. On the last working day before the Eid holiday, Islami Bank Chairman M Zubaidur Rahman resigned from his post on 24 May.
Later that night, former Bangladesh Bank Deputy Governor Md Khurshid Alam was appointed as the bank’s new chairman.
The protesters alleged that Chairman Khurshid Alam is an associate of the S Alam Group and demanded that his appointment be cancelled.
Khurshid, a former deputy governor of Bangladesh Bank, was scheduled to join Islami Bank today.
He resigned from the Bangladesh Bank following protests by central bank officials after the political changeover on 5 August 2024.
Bank officials said programmes were held in various parts of the country during the Eid holidays under the banner of the “Islami Bank Customers Forum” to protest the appointment. As part of the movement, protesters gathered outside the bank’s headquarters before office hours today, reports Prothom Alo.
Police asked the demonstrators not to continue the programme without permission. When banners were displayed, police used water cannons and sound grenades to disperse the crowd, according to officials.
Source: https://www.tbsnews.net/bangladesh/tension-flares-again-outside-islami-bank-hq-police-use-sound-grenades-baton-charge
