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Published : 01 Jun 2026, 11:34 AM
The air is tense in Motijheel’s Dilkusha after police fired tear gas and used water cannons to try and disperse a protest by the group Conscious Customer Forum, which had formed a human chain outside the Islami Bank on the first day of the new chairman’s tenure.
A large number of law enforcement personnel have been deployed to the area.
Water cannons have been stationed alongside police vans.
Police have taken up positions at both ends of the road in front of Islami Bank and blocked traffic.
The protesters have taken up positions in small groups on the road, caught between police on both ends.
Tension fills the air.
Khandaker Mahbubul Haque, a member of the Islami Bank Conscious Customer Forum, said in front of the Islami Bank head office (Islami Bank Tower) on Monday: "I have had a bank account at Islami Bank since its establishment. To manage this bank, you have to know Shariah and be honest. All those who are at Islami Bank are honest and have religious knowledge. They will be able to run the bank. The person who has been given charge of it does not have that knowledge.’’
He said, ‘‘The bank cannot be run by this incompetent person. We want the Islamic Bank to run it as it was before. The Islamic Bank must be run by them, not by some dishonest person who is obedient to the government.’’
‘‘We do not want to see any incompetent person at Islamic Bank. A competent person must be given the responsibility of running the bank.’’
Mostafizur Rahman, who has been managing business accounts for a long time, said: ‘‘We do not want to see any S Alam manager at this bank. I will not let anyone else loot my money. S Alam must be tried, the money looted from the bank must be returned.’’
Stating that those who lack the skills and knowledge of Shariah to run an Islamic Bank are “incompetent”, he said: ‘‘We do not want to see any incompetent person at Islamic Bank. A qualified person should be given the responsibility of running the bank.’’
On the last working day before the holidays, Khurshid Alam, former deputy governor of Bangladesh Bank, was appointed as the new chairman of Islami Bank.
The protesters are calling for his removal, describing him as an associate of the S Alam Group. They are demanding the reinstatement of the bank's 2017 board of directors, who were appointed before the S Alam Group took control of the institution.
After their resignations on May 24, the central bank chose Khurshid, who had been appointed as a deputy governor for a three-year term at Bangladesh Bank in February, 2024.
Following the ousting of the Awami League government on Aug 5, 2024, four senior officials of the central bank – including Khurshid – were forced to resign.
The Islami Bank, which had long been under the control of the Chattogram-based S Alam Group, has seen many changes under the one-and-a-half-year tenure of the interim government.
Khurshid was chosen as its new chairman after the BNP formed the government after winning an absolute majority in the 13th parliamentary elections.
On receiving news that Khurshid would begin his first day at work on Monday, members of the Conscious Customer Forum – which has ties to Jamaat-e-Islami - took up positions in front of the Islami Bank Tower at 9am, an hour before the opening.
Shortly before 10am, tear gas was fired to try and disperse the protesters. Then, water cannons were used. The protesters retreated slightly and the police took up a defensive position.
After some time, the protesters regrouped and took up positions in front of the Islami Bank Tower.
The police and protesters are currently in a face-off. Some of those injured in a police chase have been sent to the hospital.
Once the situation calmed down a bit, the protesters divided themselves into smaller groups, formed human chains, and gave speeches using megaphones,
Police were deployed at the two entrances of Islami Bank Tower until noon.
Additional male and female police personnel, as well as members of other law-enforcing agencies, have been deployed in the area.
Abul Hashem, who came to protest, said: "No controversial manager of S Alam will be allowed to come here. Only those who are capable of running the bank will be allowed to run it. I will not allow any more looting."
DMP's Deputy Commissioner of Media and Public Relations NM Nasiruddin, said: "There were two groups of people holding a programme at the same time today. One was a group of people who were laid off from Islami Bank. Another was a group of customers who could not withdraw money properly. The group who had been laid off had applied to the police for permission for their programme."
The police officer said that after learning about the two groups' simultaneous programmes in Motijheel’s Bankpara, the police “did not approve” the protest by those laid off. The customers' group “did not inform” the police of the protest.
Police spokesman Nasiruddin said, “Both groups started gathering in the area in the morning. Offices opened today after the long Eid holiday, and economic activities were under way in the area. But because of the protests, not only Islami Bank, but also other banks and institutions in the vicinity had their regular activities disrupted. Officials and employees were unable to enter their offices.
“This area is busy in the morning, but they were blocking the road and creating obstacles. Under the circumstances, the police tried to convince them to move away. The police said that if they have any demands, they should go to the authorities with their representatives, but they should clear the way.”
When the protesters tried to continue their programme without obeying the police, it led to the first clash.
“At one stage, they were dispersed by legally firing water cannons and sound grenades. At that time, several police personnel were injured by the impact of their brickbats.”
He said the situation is currently "under police control." He did not clarify whether anyone had been arrested from the scene.
Board Meeting Held Virtually
Under the circumstances, the Islami Bank Board of Directors decided to meet virtually.
Company Secretary Habibur Rahman said the board joined online at 2:30pm, with new Chairman Khurshid presiding.
A protest by the Conscious Customer Forum had also disrupted the board’s previously planned meeting on May 24. A new date for the board meeting was fixed after the appointment of the new chairman.
Though initially scheduled to be held at Islami Bank Tower, the protests resulted in it being shifted online.
