Islami Bank employees stage demo, observe 2-hour work stoppage
During the protest, the demonstrators called for the resignation of Chairman Md Khurshid Alam.
Employees of Islami Bank staged a demonstration in front of the bank's Kawran Bazar branch today (8 June), observing a two-hour work stoppage to press home their demand for the removal of Chairman Md Khurshid Alam.
The programme was organised under the banner of the "Islami Bank Sacheton Grahok Forum."
During the protest, the demonstrators called for the chairman's resignation and observed a two-hour work stoppage at all Islami Bank branches across the country.
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At the bank's Motijheel branch, customer presence was reportedly minimal during the programme.
The symbolic work stoppage follows a string of intense street demonstrations.
The "Islami Bank Sacheton Grahok Forum" had earlier staged a large-scale demonstration in the capital on 3 June, marching through the city to demand the chairman's exit and urging bank employees to join today's corporate strike.
The campaign had entered its third consecutive day as protesters initiated a procession from the bank's head office premises toward the National Press Club before staging a sit-in in front of the Secretariat.
Forum President Nurul Nabi Manik claimed that Islami Bank Chairman Khurshid Alam had been appointed despite his previous removal by Bangladesh Bank officials following the July Uprising due to his alleged involvement in financial irregularities under the fallen Awami League regime.
Manik warned that maintaining such leadership poses a severe threat to the stability of the institution, which stands as one of the largest banks in Southeast Asia, and noted that its collapse would have catastrophic repercussions for the national economy.
The customers' forum urged the government to lawfully intervene and restore corporate governance by reinstating experienced managerial personnel who had previously contributed to the bank's development.
The unrest began after a leadership change at the country's largest private commercial bank. Former chairman M Zubaidur Rahman resigned on 24 May, shortly before the Eid holidays.
Later that night, former Bangladesh Bank deputy governor Khurshid Alam was appointed chairman of the bank. He had earlier resigned from Bangladesh Bank following protests by central bank officials after the political changeover of 5 August 2024.
