Islami Bank customers at a human chain in front of the bank’s head office on Sunday demanded arrest of loan defaulter S Alam, recovery of his laundered money and cancellation of Section 18 (ka) of the Bank Resolution Law.
Earlier in the morning, the dismissed employees of six Islamic banks staged a protest at the same place, pressing for restoration of their jobs, payment of outstanding benefits and removal of current boards and senior management.
They alleged that nearly 10,000 officers and employees were dismissed without due process after the political changeover in August 2024.
Protesters also demanded legal protection to prevent similar dismissals in future and called for action against individuals they accused of being responsible for the terminations.
Most of the dismissed employees are reportedly from Patiya in Chattogram. They were allegedly recruited when the banks were under the control of the controversial S Alam Group.
Many recruitment were made without public job advertisements, competitive examinations or proper verification of academic credentials.
Bank officials said that the dismissals followed verification of academic credentials and internal assessments, carried out in line with instructions from Bangladesh Bank.
They maintained that only those with irregular recruitment records or forged documents were removed.
Later, the Islami Bank Customers Coordination Council held a counter programme at the same venue, shifting focus to alleged financial misconduct and governance failures during the period when the banks were under the control of the S Alam Group.
Council president Nurun Nabi outlined a five-point demand, led by calls to arrest S Alam and other alleged beneficiaries, confiscate domestic assets and bring back funds transferred abroad.
He said accountability for what he described as large-scale looting must take priority over other considerations.
The council strongly opposed Section 18 (ka) of the Bank Resolution Law, arguing that the provision could allow the rehabilitation of individuals accused of financial misconduct.
It demanded immediate repeal of the clause, warning that retaining it could undermine efforts to restore discipline in the banking sector.
The platform also called for blocking any attempt by groups, linked to previous plundering, to re-enter banks and insisted that ownership be returned to what it described as original stakeholders.
The council announced a 15-day programme to build public opinion, including online campaigns, leaflet distribution and local-level events involving small traders and depositors, while also seeking to document alleged collaborators in financial irregularities.
