The fierce blockade forced bank authorities to scrap their scheduled board meeting, triggering sharp allegations that the organizing group, ‘Conscious Customer Forum,’ was backed by the controversial former owner, S. Alam Group, and opportunists within Jamaat
Labonno Chowdhury: Tension flared at Islami Bank’s central office on Monday as furious demonstrators demanded the immediate cancellation of the newly appointed chairman’s appointment. The fierce blockade forced bank authorities to scrap their scheduled board meeting, triggering sharp allegations that the organizing group, ‘Conscious Customer Forum,’ was backed by the controversial former owner, S. Alam Group, and opportunists within Jamaat.
Renewed protests have broken out demanding the removal of the newly appointed Islami Bank chairman, following a police intervention that disrupted an earlier human chain. Leaders of another group, the ‘Islami Bank Customers Forum,’ have put forward several demands alongside the cancellation of the chairman’s appointment.
Speaking at the demonstration, Nurun Nabi Manik, president of the Islami Bank Customers’ Forum, demanded that the new chairman’s appointment be rescinded and former Managing Director Omar Faruk be reinstated. During the demonstration, speakers also called for the return of Mohammed Saiful Alam, founder and chairman of S. Alam Group, to face justice. They further demanded the recovery of laundered funds and the resignation of Bangladesh Bank Governor Mostaqur Rahman over the appointment of Khurshid Alam as the bank’s chairman.
The previous chairman, Professor M. Zubaidur Rahman, who had been appointed as an independent director by Bangladesh Bank, resigned on the final working day before the Eid holidays. At 9:00 pm that same evening, Bangladesh Bank appointed former Deputy Governor Md. Khurshid Alam as the new chairman.
Bank officials noted that citizens under the banner of the Islami Bank Customers’ Forum had been holding protests across the country throughout the Eid break. Today’s rally was organized as a continuation of those demonstrations.
Conflicting Stances & Allegations
- Political Sabotage Claims: Critics and onlookers pointed out that many demonstrators could not verify their account statuses when questioned, indicating the “customer forum” may have been a front used to organize a planned mob. The bank’s management alleged that associates of the former owner—the controversial S. Alam Group—and opportunistic factions of Jamaat-e-Islami orchestrated the disruption to reclaim organizational control.
- Political Support: Conversely, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami issued an official statement strongly condemning the police violence against the peaceful sit-in, expressing solidarity with the demonstrators’ demands.
- Central Bank’s Final Word: Despite the widespread street protests and volatile security situation, Bangladesh Bank officially declared that the appointment of Khurshid Alam is final and there is absolutely no possibility of removing the new chairman.
