Depositors submit memos to four Ctg banks demanding return of funds

A group of agitated depositors staged a sit-in, brought out a procession and submitted memorandums to four banks in Chattogram's Agrabad today (27 August), demanding the restoration of normal banking operations and withdrawal of the proposed "haircut" on deposits.

The programme was organised by the Chattogram chapter of the Sammilito Bank Depositors Association at the city's Agrabad banking district.

The depositors chanted slogans including "My money is in the bank, why am I on the streets?" and "We will not accept haircut", demanding that regular banking transactions be restored quickly and the proposed haircut scrapped.

After the sit-in, the protestors, led by association leaders, visited the Agrabad branches of Union Bank, Global Bank, Social Islami Bank and EXIM Bank. They held meetings with bank officials at each branch.

During the meetings, they discussed the return of their deposits, the current state of banking transactions and recent directives issued by Bangladesh Bank. They also raised their concerns and demands with branch managers.

At Social Islami Bank's Agrabad branch, the bank's Chattogram zonal head and branch manager joined the discussion. Several issues, including the process of returning depositors' funds, were discussed, according to the protestors.

The depositors said they have been suffering for a long time as they cannot conduct normal transactions despite having money in the banks. 

They demanded complete withdrawal of the proposed haircut, saying there should be no manipulation in returning deposits and profits and that depositors should receive market-based returns.

The programme was led by Abul Kalam Azad, president of the association's Chattogram committee, and General Secretary Haji Jahangir Hossain, among others.