Customers of merged banks in Chattogram protest for second day

They demand repayment of their deposits with profits and lock branches of Exim Bank, Union Bank and First Security Islami Bank

Depositors and customers of five merged banks have staged protests for the second consecutive day in Chattogram, locking bank branches and demanding repayment of their deposits along with full profit payments.

The protesters held a rally on Monday morning at Badamtali intersection in the port city’s Agrabad area under the banner of the “Sammilito Islami Bank Amanatkari Association” (Combined Islami Bank Depositors Association).

They then locked an Exim Bank branch.

Later, they marched to Union Bank, where they reportedly asked officials to leave the premises before locking that branch as well. They then went to First Security Islami Bank and locked its branch too.

The five merged banks are First Security Islami Bank, Global Islami Bank, Union Bank, Social Islami Bank and Exim Bank.

Kaisarul Alam, manager of Union Bank’s Agrabad branch, said: “It is not possible to pay everyone if all customers come to withdraw money at once. We have informed the higher authorities about the matter.

“Our regular transactions are continuing, but normal operations are being disrupted because of the protest.”

One protester, Naushin Jannat, said: “We do not want to take to the streets. We want our money back. This situation is causing customers to lose confidence in banks. The country’s economy is being harmed.”

Another depositor, Nazmul Hasan, said he had deposited money in 2018.

“I withdrew profits from the bank earlier. Now the bank says it made no profit. They are saying money will be deducted from our principal amount. People who kept money in other banks are receiving profits, but we are suffering losses.”

Customers and depositors had also staged protests in Khatunganj on Sunday.