Depositors withdrew Tk577 crore from Sammilito Islami Bank in the first two days of its repayment programme, as the newly merged lender began returning funds to customers of five troubled Islamic banks.
A total of 13,896 customers received the money over the two days. On Tuesday alone, the second day of repayments, 7,896 customers withdrew Tk327 crore.
The bank had returned Tk250 crore to 6,000 customers on Monday, the first day of the programme. That means 1,896 more customers withdrew funds on Tuesday, while the amount paid rose by Tk77 crore.
Sammilito Islami Bank, formed through the merger of five Shariah-based banks, began repaying depositors on Monday. It also resumed online fund transfers the same day, marking a step towards restoring normal banking operations after prolonged liquidity shortages had left customers unable to freely access their deposits.
The bank accepted withdrawal applications from September 1 to 6. A total of 74,211 depositors applied to withdraw Tk3,925 crore within the stipulated period.
Not all of the amount requested, however, is leaving the bank.
Sammilito Islami Bank Managing Director Md Abedur Rahman Sikder earlier said many customers who had applied for withdrawals did not ultimately collect their money. Some decided to keep their deposits after being contacted by the bank, while others withdrew funds only to redeposit them later.
Bangladesh Bank has provided Tk5,000 crore to Sammilito Islami Bank to support the repayment process and ensure that eligible customers seeking their money are not turned away for lack of liquidity.
Sammilito Islami Bank was created by merging First Security Islami Bank, Social Islami Bank, Union Bank, Global Islami Bank and EXIM Bank. The five banks continue to operate their combined 761 branches separately for now.
The former interim government initiated the merger after the five lenders fell into severe financial distress following the fall of the Awami League government in August 2024.
