Sammilito Islami Bank depositors take to streets in Ctg demanding return of savings

Depositors of Sammilito Islami Bank took to the streets in Chattogram on Thursday, demanding the full return of their savings with profits and an immediate restoration of normal banking services, as mounting frustration over frozen funds boiled over into street protests.
Hundreds of depositors gathered outside the Bangladesh Bank Chattogram regional office around noon under the banner of the Sammilito Five Islamic Banks Depositors Association, pressing the authorities to end the uncertainty surrounding their hard-earned money.
Their message was unequivocal: return every taka, impose no haircut and restore normal banking operations without further delay.
Sammilito Islami Bank was created last year through the merger of five troubled Islamic banks �" First Security Islami Bank, Global Islami Bank, Union Bank, EXIM Bank and Social Islami Bank.
Since the merger, depositors have faced prolonged uncertainty over access to their savings. Their anxiety intensified after a decision was taken not to pay profits on deposits for the past two financial years.
The Bangladesh Bank subsequently retreated from a controversial proposal to impose a “haircut” on depositors’ funds following widespread protests and mounting pressure from customers.
But depositors said they would not settle for assurances alone, demanding that any possibility of deductions from their savings be ruled out permanently.
They also called for the swift restoration of regular banking transactions and a clear guarantee from the authorities that their deposits would remain fully protected.