Separate protest programmes by the conscious customers’ forum and dismissed officers and employees of Islami Bank Bangladesh PLC continued in Motijheel, Dhaka, on Thursday (17 September), with the two groups holding positions at different locations and pursuing separate demands.
Members of the Islami Bank Conscious Customers Forum gathered outside Islami Bank Tower in Dilkusha from the morning. They raised slogans and held a protest rally, demanding action against those they accuse of being involved in alleged financial irregularities and the misuse of the bank’s resources. The forum also called for measures against the S Alam Group and others it alleges were involved in activities that harmed the bank.
The customers’ forum said Thursday marked the fifth consecutive day of its position outside the bank’s head office. Its members have been calling for steps to restore stability at Islami Bank and protect the interests of its customers.
Meanwhile, dismissed officers and employees staged a separate demonstration near Shapla Chattar. They raised slogans including, “One demand, one point—we want our jobs back.” The protesters said more than 100 dismissed officers and employees from Patiya in Chattogram had joined the programme.
The dismissed employees said they had submitted a memorandum to the governor of Bangladesh Bank last Sunday but had not yet been given an opportunity to meet him. They warned that if the governor did not meet them, they could announce stronger programmes, including a move to surround the Bangladesh Bank headquarters.
Professor Nurunnabi Manik, president of the conscious customers’ forum, said the process of forming Islami Bank’s board of directors was nearing its final stage. He alleged that various efforts were being made to create instability at the bank and claimed that an attempt by a group to demonstrate outside the institution was part of such efforts.
Manik said customers would remain united against any attempt to destabilise Islami Bank. He added that the forum would continue its activities peacefully and through organised programmes while seeking to protect customers’ interests.
Mutasim Billah, secretary of the forum, called for the swift formation of a full board of directors to help restore stability. He also demanded the recovery of assets allegedly transferred abroad by the S Alam Group, the adjustment of what he described as irregular loan facilities, and legal action against those found responsible.
The question of reinstating dismissed employees has created another point of contention.
Billah objected to the demand for reinstatement, alleging that many people had been recruited during the S Alam period without following proper recruitment procedures. He said an examination was later conducted to provide an opportunity for some of those employees to remain in their positions. According to him, many people who took part in that examination are still working at Islami Bank, while a number of the current protesters did not participate.
Dismissed officer Mizan rejected the allegation. He said many employees had not taken part in the examination because they had approached the courts seeking its cancellation. He also disputed the claim that everyone who participated in the examination had retained their jobs. Mizan said the dismissed employees would continue their movement until their employment issue was resolved.
Another dismissed officer, Anwar, alleged that they had been removed from their jobs without prior notice or following proper procedures. He said prolonged unemployment had left many of them struggling to support their families. Along with reinstatement, he demanded the benefits and other facilities he said were due to the affected employees.
Another protester, Ashraf, said the loss of employment had created severe financial difficulties for their families. He said the movement would continue until the employees were given their jobs back.
The customers’ forum has also accused dismissed employees of being involved in loan disbursement and other alleged irregularities. However, no immediate detailed response from the protesting former employees was available regarding those allegations.
The separate programmes have brought two sets of demands into focus at the same institution. The customers’ forum is seeking action over alleged financial irregularities and measures to strengthen the bank’s stability, while the dismissed employees are demanding reinstatement and an opportunity to present their grievances directly to the central bank.
As both groups continue their respective programmes in Motijheel, the dispute remains focused on Islami Bank’s management, alleged financial irregularities and the employment status of former officers and employees.
