Rival sit-ins trigger tension outside Islami Bank Headquarters

Tensions emerged outside Islami Bank Bangladesh’s head office in Motijheel of Dhaka, on Sunday (September 13) as sacked officials and a group of customers staged rival programmes over the reinstatement of employees recruited during the bank’s period under S Alam Group control.

The two groups began separate sit-ins under different banners in front of Islami Bank Tower from 9am. The dismissed officials left the area around 12:50pm, while the customer group continued its programme.

The sacked officials demanded reinstatement, alleging that they were dismissed collectively without individual investigations. They also called for scrutiny by Bangladesh Bank to determine whether their appointments were valid.

A member of the dismissed officials, Anwar, said the employees had been struggling financially since losing their jobs. He claimed the bank’s new board, formed after August 5, 2024, dismissed them and vowed not to return home until they were reinstated.

Responding to the protest, the Sacheton Grahok Forum accused the dismissed employees of disrupting the bank’s normal operations to press for reinstatement despite allegations that some were recruited through irregularities and forged certificates during S Alam’s control of the bank.

Forum Vice-President Shamim Hasnain said they began their sit-in after learning that the officials’ protest could disrupt banking operations. He claimed the bank had initiated verification of recruitment documents after August 5, 2024, and planned to retain qualified employees through examinations, but the concerned officials did not take part.

The forum called for uninterrupted banking operations and action against those found involved in irregularities.