The Islami Bank Conscious Customers’ Forum has called on officials of Islami Bank Bangladesh (IBBL) PLC to observe a two-hour work stoppage on Thursday, demanding the removal of the bank’s chairman Khurshid Alam, in an escalation of protests over the recent leadership change.
The forum also said it would continue its agitation until the appointment is cancelled.
The call was made by forum convener Nur Nabi Manik at a rally in front of the National Press Club on Wednesday, following a procession and protest gathering in Dilkusha, Motijheel, marking the third consecutive day of demonstrations.
He urged bank officials to abstain from work between 10am and 12pm on Thursday. The forum also placed a seven-point demand, including the reinstatement of former managing director Omar Faruk Khan, who resigned last month.
After the rally, protesters marched from Dilkusha through Dainik Bangla to the National Press Club before returning to Dilkusha for another gathering.
Responding to the protests, Bangladesh Bank spokesperson Arief Hossain Khan said the central bank would not reverse its decision based on street demonstrations. He said the matter could be reconsidered if it is established that the chairman’s appointment is detrimental to the bank.
On the call for a work stoppage, he said employees were free to adopt lawful forms of protest, but questions regarding the legal basis for protesting appointments or board decisions fall within the bank’s internal administrative framework.
Bangladesh Bank appointed Khurshid Alam as chairman of Islami Bank on 24 May, the same day former chairman Zubaidur Rahman and managing director Omar Faruk Khan resigned. Protests demanding reversal of the appointment have continued since then.
