Separate protest programmes by a customer forum and former employees of Islami Bank Bangladesh PLC continued in Motijheel, Dhaka, on Thursday, with both groups raising demands concerning the bank’s management, stability and employment.
Members of the Islami Bank Conscious Customers Forum gathered outside Islami Bank Tower in the Dilkusha area, while dismissed officers and employees assembled near Shapla Chattar. The two groups held separate programmes and raised slogans over their respective demands.
The customer forum said it had been maintaining a continuous position outside the bank’s head office for five days. During Thursday’s programme, its members held a protest rally and called for action against those they accuse of being involved in irregularities and alleged mismanagement at the bank, including matters linked to the S Alam Group.
At the same time, dismissed employees gathered at Shapla Chattar with slogans including, “One demand, one point—we want our jobs back.” According to the protesters, more than 100 dismissed officers and employees from Patiya in Chattogram also joined the programme.
The former employees said they submitted a memorandum to the governor of Bangladesh Bank last Sunday seeking an opportunity to discuss their grievances. They said they had not yet been given a meeting with the governor. If no meeting is arranged, they warned that they could move towards stronger programmes, including surrounding the Bangladesh Bank headquarters.
Professor Nurunnabi Manik, president of the conscious customers forum, alleged that attempts were being made to create instability at Islami Bank at a time when the process of forming a new board of directors was nearing completion. He claimed that a group was trying to use demonstrations outside the bank as part of such efforts.
Manik said customers would remain united against any attempt to destabilise the bank. He also said the forum would continue its programmes in a peaceful and organised manner, focusing on the interests of depositors and customers.
Mutasim Billah, secretary of the forum, called for the rapid formation of a full board of directors to restore stability at the bank. He also demanded the recovery of assets allegedly transferred abroad by the S Alam Group, adjustment of what he described as irregular loan facilities, and legal action against those found responsible.
The question of reinstating dismissed employees has emerged as another point of disagreement between the two sides.
Opposing the demand for reinstatement, Billah alleged that a number of people had been recruited during the S Alam period without following proper recruitment procedures. He said an examination was later arranged to create an opportunity for some of those employees to remain in their positions. According to him, many who took part in that examination are still working at the bank, while a number of the protesters did not participate in it.
Dismissed bank officer Mizan rejected that allegation. He said many employees had not taken part in the examination because they had gone to court seeking its cancellation. He also disputed the claim that everyone who participated in the examination had retained their jobs. Mizan said the employees would continue protesting until their employment issue was resolved.
Another dismissed officer, Anwar, alleged that they had been removed from their jobs without proper notice or due process. He said prolonged unemployment had placed many families under severe financial pressure and demanded reinstatement along with the benefits they believe they are entitled to receive.
Another protester, Ashraf, said the loss of employment had pushed affected families into serious financial difficulties. He also said the movement would continue until their jobs were restored.
The customer forum has also levelled allegations against the dismissed employees over their alleged involvement in loan disbursement and other irregularities. The protesters, however, had not immediately provided a detailed response to those allegations.
The separate demonstrations highlight continuing disagreements over Islami Bank’s management, employee status and alleged financial irregularities. The dispute now involves both demands for institutional stability and calls from former employees for their employment to be restored, while the competing allegations remain contested by the respective sides.