Depositors withdrew Tk107.77 crore from the newly merged Sammilito Islami Bank over the past two days, even as fresh deposits continued to flow in, Bangladesh Bank Governor Ahsan H Mansur said on Monday, seeking to reassure customers that their money remains fully safe.
Addressing a press briefing at the central bank, the governor said 13,314 depositors made withdrawals on Thursday and Sunday following the consolidation of five Shariah-based banks, while deposits of Tk44.09 crore were also recorded during the same period. After accounting for inflows, the net outflow stood at Tk63.26 crore.
“Withdrawals happened, but deposits also came in,” Mansur said. “This proves that the money here is completely safe. Customers have nothing to worry about, and I do not see any reason for fear going forward.”
Data shared at the briefing showed that Exim Bank accounted for the largest share of withdrawals, with Tk66 crore taken out by 6,265 depositors. At the same time, Exim Bank also recorded the highest number of fresh deposits, amounting to Tk24.26 crore. Union Bank received Tk15.24 crore in new deposits, Social Islami Bank Tk3.49 crore, First Security Islami Bank Tk48 lakh, and Global Islami Bank Tk62 lakh.
The governor said the central bank’s immediate priority is to stabilise the merged entity and rebuild confidence, with a target to return Sammilito Islami Bank to profitability within one to two years.
“Our goal is to bring in new customers,” he said, adding that deposits mobilised over the past two days came from new clients who will be free to withdraw funds at any time and will receive competitive profit rates in line with prevailing Islamic banking returns.
Mansur acknowledged that the merger process had been accompanied by widespread anxiety, including scepticism from domestic and international advisers. “There were many doubts and fears,” he said. “But we have been able to overcome them. The story is positive, and the data we are seeing is strengthening our confidence.”
He said the bank’s immediate operational challenges include boosting remittance inflows, restoring momentum in export and import financing, ensuring uninterrupted digital services such as utility bill payments, cutting costs and increasing income.
On governance and accountability, the governor announced that all five merged banks will be brought under forensic audit to trace how funds were siphoned off in the past and to identify those responsible.
“We will determine where the money went and who was involved,” he said. “If anyone is found guilty – whether an official or a sponsor-director – there will be no leniency. Evidence will be shared with the relevant agencies for legal action.”
Mansur added that although Sammilito Islami Bank will remain under state ownership for now, it will be run on a private-sector management model. Staff will not be placed on government pay scales, he said, and disparate salary structures across the five banks will be unified under a single private banking framework.
He also said the process to appoint a managing director is moving quickly and could be completed within a week.
The chairman of Sammilito Islami Bank, Mohammad Ayub Mia, was present at the briefing.
