Police detain Sammilito Islami Bank depositors, disperse protest at central bank
The depositors warned that if their demands are not met, they will organise a siege protest of the Bangladesh Bank on 12 March.
Several depositors of Sammilito Islami Bank were detained as police used water cannons to disperse a human chain and sit-in in front of Bangladesh Bank in Motijheel, Dhaka, today (5 March). The protesters were demanding the cancellation of the proposed "haircut" decision and pressing a three-point demand.
Around 11am, nearly 50 depositors gathered in front of the central bank and began their protest. The demonstrators said they would continue the sit-in for an hour to press home their demands.
Speakers at the human chain alleged that under a decision taken during the tenure of a former governor of Bangladesh Bank, depositors of five Shariah-based banks would receive only a 4% government concession after deducting the profits of the past two years from their deposits. They termed the decision inhumane and unjust for depositors.
They said, "For the past two years, many depositors have not been able to withdraw their principal or profits from these banks. As a result, many families have fallen into severe financial hardship and are leading extremely difficult lives."
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The protesters demanded that the "haircut" decision be scrapped and that depositors be paid the full amount of their deposits along with the profits for 2024 and 2025 in accordance with their agreements.
They also called for all types of banking transactions at Sammilito Islami Bank to be normalised, similar to other scheduled banks.
During the protest programme, the depositors warned that if their demands are not met, they will organise a siege of the Bangladesh Bank on 12 March.
