Human chain of customers in Rupganj to protest the naked intervention in Islami Bank at the instigation of looter S. Alam

Md. Haroon Or Rashid

At the instigation of Lutera S. Alam, a human chain program was held on the side of Dhaka-Sylhet highway in Bhulta (Gauchia) area of Rupganj Upazila of Narayanganj to protest against naked interference, customer harassment and money laundering on Islami Bank. This human chain was organized under the banner of 'Islami Bank Conscious Customer Forum' on Sunday (May 24) morning.

Speakers in the human chain complained, to ensure the trust of customers, stability and good governance of the bank. Omar Farooq Khan needs to be reinstated. Conspiracy to destroy the Islamic banking system is underway and 'illegal interference' in bank operations must be stopped. Islami Bank MD Omar Farooq Khan cannot be 'forcibly ousted' and any 'steps' to destroy the banking sector must be stopped. As an ordinary depositor and a conscious citizen of the country, I stand before you to talk about a matter of great concern.
We are all aware of the looting and looting that was carried out during the previous fascist regime on the banking sector of this country, especially on the country's largest retail bank 'Islami Bank Bangladesh'. As the country's economy begins to recover after the historic mass uprising of the students, while banks are trying to regain the trust of the customers - it is precisely then that we observe with great concern that a new type of sinister influence and unwanted interference is being attempted on the Islamic banking sector. As a typical customer our backs are against the wall. Our question is if we can't sleep peacefully at night keeping our hard-earned money in the bank, if we always have to be in fear about the security of our deposits, then where will the common man go? How unscrupulous gangs like S Alam Group embezzled thousands of crores of rupees from banks and almost bankrupted them.His wounds are not yet healed. In this situation, we will not accept any new chaos or bare feet in the banking sector. At this critical moment, we strongly demand to the present government and Bangladesh Bank that the professional and qualified leadership of Islami Bank should not be made a scapegoat for political or any other narrow purpose. Specific and permanent measures should be taken so that Islami Bank can be managed completely independently, maintaining banking regulations and its own identity. We want to make it clear that if the deposits of common customers are again at risk due to some evil conspiracy inside or outside the bank, then the conscious public will not sit at home. To protect the sanctity of Islami Bank and to ensure the safety of common people's deposits, we common customers and the students of the country will be forced to take to the streets to form a strong resistance.

Mohiuddin Bhuiyan, Ahsanullah, Yashin Ali, Ali Hossain, Jahangir Alam, Monir Hossain, Nasiruddin, Shamim Mia, Tariqul Islam, Jaibal Abedin, Abdus Salam and many others were present in the human chain.

The speakers said,If the necessary steps are not taken quickly to restore the confidence of the bank's customers, more stringent programs will be announced in the future.