A section of Islami Bank customers staged a demonstartion for the second consecutive day on Tuesday to press home their seven-point demands, including the removal of newly-appointed chairman Khurshid Alam and all members of the board of directors.
Protesters stated they joined the demonstration receiving text messages on their mobile phones.
The demonstration took place in front of the head office and across the country.
However, Bangladesh Bank spokesperson Arif Hossain Khan expressed doubts about the identities of the demonstrators demanding the cancellation of newly appointed Islami Bank chairman Khurshid Alam's appointment.
He said there are doubts about whether the demonstrators were genuine depositors.
According to Arif Hossain Khan, the demonstrators took to the streets under various anonymous and pseudonymous banners. Bangladesh Bank would not back down from its decision in any way due to any street protests, he asserted.
He made the remarks while talking to journalists during a briefing at Bangladesh Bank on Tuesday (June 2).
Meanwhile, around 9:00am on Tuesday, some 200 to 300 customers assembled in front of the Islami Bank head office at Dilkusha in Motijheel in the capital under the banner of 'Islami Bank Conscious Customer Forum' though the Islami Bank's total number of customers is around 3 crore. At that time, they carried placards containing various demands.
The demonstrators alleged that there were irregularities happened in recent changes at the top level of management.
They demanded removal of the entire board of directors, including the chairman as early as possible. They also announced to continue their movement until their demands were not fulfilled.
Police were on high alert at the scene to keep the situation under control. On that day, additional police forces, water cannons, and armored vehicles were deployed. However, no untoward incidents occurred during the second day of the program.
Following a protest program, leaders of the Conscious Customers' Forum presented a 7-point demand at a press conference. The demands were presented by the forum's convener, Noor Nabi Manik, who is also a member of the Central Majlis-e-Shura of Jamaat-e-Islami and a zone director.
At that time, Md Shahin, Amir of Paltan Thana Unit of Jamaat-e-Islami; Monzur Islam, former Central Committee President of Islami Chhatra Shibir; Shahin Ahmed Khan, Working Committee Member and Social Welfare Secretary of Dhaka City South unit of Jamaat-e-Islami; Md. Hasan, a ward boy from Islami Bank Hospital; Matiur Rahman, Amir of Kotwali Thana unit of Jamaat-e-Islami; and leaders from the Wari Thana alongside other leaders and activists of the party.
Many protesters didn't even know the name of their own branch; they joined the movement immediately upon receiving a message.
Visiting the spot, it was found that customers from different branches began gathering under the banner of 'Islami Bank Conscious Customer Forum' in front of the Islami Bank Tower in Motijheel yesterday, starting from 9:00am. They did not identify themselves with any political party. However, they stated that they came to the protest in Motijheel after receiving a message.
Prof Noor Nabi Manik, who is also a member of the Central Majlis-e-Shura of Jamaat-e-Islami and a zone director. Under his leadership, a movement began on the streets with banners demanding the resignation of the Bangladesh Bank Governor, although many protestors could not accurately state which branch they held accounts with.
Ignoring intense heat under the sun, different age-group of customers delivered speeches against the government and Bangladesh Bank. Many protestors, including Md. Sabit Ali, claimed to be customers but hesitated or failed to provide accurate details about their account branches when questioned.
They asserted that they would not leave the field until transparency is restored to the bank's management and former MD Omar Faruk Khan is not reinstated.
He also mentioned that they arrived in Motijheel immediately upon receiving the message.
Professor Nur Nabi Manik is currently leading the protest movement demanding the cancellation of the newly appointed Chairman of Islami Bank Bangladesh PLC and the protection of regular depositors' funds.
He is a member of the Central Majlis-e-Shura of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and serves as the President of the 'Islami Bank Victim Depositors Coordination Council' (also known as the Islami Bank Conscious Depositors Forum), which called for this program.
Bangladesh Bank spokesperson Arif Hossain Khan said no policy decisions in the banking sector will be altered due to street protests or agitations, and all actions will be taken strictly based on legal and regulatory frameworks.
END/ASA
