Police disperse protest at Islami Bank over new chairman appointment

Tensions erupted in Motijheel on Monday morning after police intervened in a protest demanding the removal of the newly appointed chairman of Islami Bank Bangladesh PLC.

Members of the Islami Bank Customer Forum gathered in front of the bank’s head office, chanting slogans and staging a demonstration against the appointment of the new chairman, Mohammad Khurshid Alam.

Protesters alleged that the appointment was politically influenced and warned that it could lead to renewed financial irregularities in the bank.

According to witnesses and bank officials, the protest began around 9:30 am.

However, before the programme could fully unfold, police asked the demonstrators to leave the area, citing a lack of permission and concerns over public disruption.

Protesters said they were not even allowed to display banners and festoons.

The situation escalated shortly afterwards when police used batons, water cannons, sound grenades and tear gas to disperse the crowd.

Panic spread across the busy banking district as protesters and bystanders scrambled for safety.

Demonstrators claimed they were holding a peaceful programme and accused law enforcement of using excessive force.

They further alleged that the newly appointed chairman has links to the controversial S Alam Group, raising fears of governance risks within the bank.

The appointment of Khurshid Alam came after the resignation of Islami Bank Chairman M Zubaydur Rahman on the last working day before Eid-ul-Azha.

Rahman had served as an independent director appointed by Bangladesh Bank. On the same night, Bangladesh Bank appointed former Deputy Governor Khurshid Alam as the new chairman of the bank.

Bank sources said the Forum had also staged smaller protests in different parts of the country during the Eid holidays, and Monday’s programme was a continuation of those demonstrations.

Police, however, said the protest lacked prior permission and blocked public roads, causing disruption.

“Some customers of the bank blocked the road. We dispersed them to ensure public order,” said Inspector (Investigation) Abdus Salam of Motijheel Police Station.

Following the incident, additional police were deployed around the Islami Bank headquarters, and security in the area was tightened.

The controversy surrounding the new appointment has further intensified ongoing debates over governance at one of the country’s largest private banks.

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