Islami Bank customers, sacked staff stage separate protests in Motijheel

The Islami Bank Bangladesh PLC Concerned Customers’ Forum and a group of dismissed bank officials and employees staged separate programmes in the capital’s Motijheel area on Wednesday, demanding action on their respective grievances.

The two groups began gathering in front of the bank’s head office in Dilkusha and near Shapla Chattar in the morning.

Members of the Concerned Customers’ Forum took position at the base of Islami Bank Tower in Dilkusha, chanting slogans and holding a protest rally. The group had earlier staged a four-day sit-in in front of the bank’s head office.

Meanwhile, dismissed officials and employees gathered near Shapla Chattar, chanting slogans including, “One point, one demand -- we want our jobs back.”

Several dismissed officials and employees from Patiya in Chattogram also joined the programme.

The dismissed employees said they would march from Shapla Chattar towards the Secretariat around 11:30am.

Professor Nurunnabi Manik, president of the Concerned Customers’ Forum, said customers would collectively resist any attempt to destabilise Islami Bank or carry out unlawful activities.

He said the forum would continue peaceful and organised programmes to protect customers’ interests.

Manik also called for the formation of a full-fledged board of directors through discussions with relevant stakeholders to restore stability to the bank and rebuild customer confidence.

He further demanded that assets allegedly siphoned abroad by the S Alam Group be recovered and seized for the benefit of the bank.