A clash, along with chasing and counter-chasing, broke out outside Islami Bank between officials sacked from posts they had received during the S Alam era and members of the Sachetan Grahok Forum (Conscious Customer Forum). Both groups claim at least 55 people from the two sides were injured.
Locals said the sacked Islami Bank employees took up position outside the bank at 7:30am on Monday, demanding reinstatement. When members of the customer forum arrived at the scene, they were attacked. The forum members then chased the sacked staff, and members of both groups were injured in the ensuing clash.
Saying 30 forum members were injured, the organisation’s president, Nur Un Nabi Manik, said: “Those illegally appointed have no relationship with the bank. They’ve taken position here to conspire against the bank all over again. Today, while we held a peaceful sit-in programme, we were attacked under police cover.”
He said: “Five people were seriously injured. Another 25 to 30 were injured and have gone home after receiving treatment. Those who carried out this planned attack must be identified. They must also be brought to justice.”
On the other side, Shahidul Islam, one of the sacked employees, claimed 25 of them were attacked. He said: “We were standing for a second day of our sit-in programme outside the bank. Within 20 minutes of us arriving today, customer forum members attacked us. Police cleared us out under protection. Twenty to 25 people have been admitted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital.”
Mohsin Al Murad, additional deputy commissioner of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s (DMP) Motijheel division, said: “I don’t know about this morning’s incident. The sacked employees have currently taken position outside Bangladesh Bank. Since this is a listed key point installation, we’ve asked them to leave the area. Law enforcement agencies are on standby to prevent any disorder.”