Hifazat chaos costs Tk 240 mln

Anarchy and vandalism by Hifazat-e Islam supporters have caused financial losses worth Tk 240 million to 20 banks and financial institution, Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith has said.

The Islami Bank, however, did not suffer any loss, he told Parliament on Monday.

Muhith said this while replying to a question by an MP.

Supporters of Hifazat-e Islam staged an unruly Dhaka siege on May 5 and began an indefinite sit-in at Motijheel’s Shapla Chattar after holding a rally there. A combined force of law enforcers had to evict them from the capital’s business hub.

Hifazat activist unleashed mayhem in the city from Motijheel to Paltan, lasting from noon to late night. They torched many establishments, shops and vehicles. They even uprooted road dividers and slashed plants on crossroads islands.

The state-owned banks that suffered losses are Janata Bank - Tk 51 million, Sonali Bank - Tk 343,250, Agrani Bank – Tk 568,000, Rupali Bank – Tk 800,000, Krishi Bank 200,000, Bangladesh Development Bank – Tk 256,000.

The other affected banks include the Bangladesh Commerce Bank - Tk 44,425, Uttara Bank - Tk 3 million, AB Bank Tk 60,450, IFIC Bank - Tk 136,000, The City Bank - Tk 57,000, ICB Islamic Bank - Tk 203,809, Eastern Bank – Tk 479,490, Social Islami Bank - Tk 40,000, Prime Bank - Tk 375,000, Dutch-Bangla Bank – Tk 170,000, Premier Bank - Tk 1.957 million, Bank Asia - Tk 3.39 million, NRB Commercial - Tk 10,000.


The House Building Finance Corporation incurred a loss of Tk 181.7 million, Basic Bank - Tk 50,000 and the Jiban Bima Corporation lost about Tk 250,000.

LGRD Minister said in a reply to MP Sadhana Haldar, saying Tk 33.3 million had been allocated for the repair of damages.