Police have launched a heavy charge on customers protesting to demand the resignation of Islami Bank’s newly appointed and controversial chairman. To disperse the demonstrators, police carried out a baton charge and used water cannon and tear gas, injuring at least 50 customers.
The action took place in front of Islami Bank’s head office in the capital’s Motijheel on Monday (June 1) morning.
Witnesses said members of the Islami Bank Customer Forum gathered in front of the head office in the morning with banners and festoons, chanting slogans and demanding the new chairman’s resignation. Around 9:30 a.m., tension flared between police and protesters when police moved to clear them, and police then began a baton charge and used water cannon and tear gas.
Many had their heads split open and bloodied in the baton charge. Many injured customers are under treatment at Dhaka Medical College Hospital and Islami Bank Hospital.
After the police action, the protesters scattered but tried to regroup near the head office some time later.
The protesters alleged that their programme was peaceful, but that police fell on them without provocation. They claimed the bank’s new chairman is a close associate of the S Alam Group, and that his appointment has raised fears of renewed irregularities and looting at the bank — the reason for their demand that he resign.
Following the incident, additional police were deployed at and around the bank’s head office and security was tightened.
Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Media and Public Relations Division Deputy Commissioner (DC) N M Nasiruddin said hundreds of protesters had blockaded the head office, disrupting banking and commercial activity in Motijheel and causing traffic congestion. Although they were repeatedly asked to leave, they engaged in arguments and scuffles with police, he said. Police took necessary steps, including water cannon and sound grenades, as a lawful measure to bring the situation under control. He also claimed at least 10 police members, including the AC (Patrol) of Motijheel, were injured.
Islami Bank chairman Professor Dr M Zubaidur Rahman resigned on May 24. Md Khurshid Alam, who had been removed from the post of Bangladesh Bank deputy governor, was later appointed the bank’s new chairman, and discontent has since emerged among a section of the bank’s customers. Customers say appointing someone controversial or on political grounds to the top post could push the country’s largest Sharia-based bank into a fresh crisis of confidence, and have demanded the appointment be reconsidered.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report