Islami Bank Bangladesh PLC officials and employees went on a one-hour abstention from work on Thursday, demanding 7-point demands including the resignation of newly-appointed chairman Khurshid Alam.
Banking operations were temporarily suspended in various branches and sub-branches of the country including the capital from 10am to 11am on June 4.
The officers and employees observed a strike in this program called by the “Islami Bank Conscious Customer Forum.”
It is learnt that the bank's regular operations, including transactions, were suspended during the program.
Officers and employees of various branches and sub-branches including the bank's head office, Motijheel office, Bashabo, Shahjahanpur, Paltan, Ramna, Bangshal, Nawabpur, Islampur, Sadarghat, Kamrangirchar, Jatrabari, Dania, Dayaganj, Chawkbazar, Moulvibazar, Panthapath, Banglamotor, and Gendaria participated in the abstention.
Although the bank's operations were closed at that time, the presence of general customers was comparatively less.
Prof Nur Nabi Manik, convener of the Islami Bank Conscious Customer Forum, said that although attempts were made to attract the attention of the concerned authorities through human chains, rallies and protest marches on the seven-point demands, Bangladesh Bank did not take any effective action. For this reason, a one-hour pen strike program has been announced.
The demands raised by the organization include the resignation of Islami Bank Chairman Khurshid Alam, reinstatement of former Managing Director (MD) Omar Faruk Khan, removal of those involved in looting from the bank's board, repeal of Section 18(a) of the Bank Resolution Act, reconciliation of the allegedly embezzled money through the sale of assets under the control of S Alam Group, prevention of S Alam Group from returning to the control of any bank in the future, and ensuring justice for those involved in irregularities in the banking sector.
Manik alleged that the decision to appoint former Deputy Governor Khurshid Alam as the chairman of Islami Bank has created concerns among customers and officials and employees.
He said that it is necessary to reconsider the matter in the interest of depositors and protecting the stability of the bank.
He also said that if no initiative is taken to implement the demands, stricter programs may be announced in the future.
No instructions to refrain from work, says acting MD
The bank's acting managing director (MD) Altaf Hossain said that the bank authorities have not given any instructions to the officers and employees of Islami Bank Bangladesh PLC regarding a one-hour break.
While talking to reporters at the bank's head office on Thursday, he said: "There is no such instruction from our side. If anyone refrains from providing customer service, necessary action will be taken."
"Our officers are ready to serve customers. If customers do not come to take service, then it is not possible for us to provide service. It is not always possible to know what is going on in a branch by sitting here."
In response to a question about the impact on the bank if the agitation creates anxiety among customers and leads to a large-scale withdrawal of money, Altaf Hossain said: "If all customers want to withdraw a lot of money from a bank in one day, then any bank will be in trouble. However, in reality, such a thing does not happen."
He added: "Currently, the pressure to withdraw money has increased slightly due to various reasons. However, the situation is still at a tolerable level. Although the pressure is higher than other times, there is no situation to panic. If something like this happened, everyone would have known about it."
Urging customers not to worry about the ongoing situation of the bank, he said that the normal operations of the Islami Bank are continuing and the bank authorities do not want any disruption in providing customer services.