The violent activities inflicted by Hefazat-e-Islam in its May 5 Dhaka siege programme had destroyed properties of 24 banks and financial institutions in Motijheel amounting to over Tk245m in losses, the finance minister told the parliament on Monday.
Replying to a question from Awami League MP Shadhana Halder, Finance Minister AMA Muhith told the parliament that the Bangladesh House Building and Finance Corporation suffered the highest monetary loss which amounted to Tk181.70m as activists of Hefazat burned down its office in front of the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque.
The state-owned Agranai Bank Limited and Janata Bank Limited faced losses of Tk568,000 and Tk51,000,000 respectively, while Sonali Bank’s loss stands at Tk343,250, according to the finance minister’s list. The list however, did not contain the name of Islami bank which has an office in the same area.
Other banks which faced damages were – Rupali Bank Limited (Tk800,000), Bangladesh Krishi Bank (Tk200,000), Bangladesh Development Bank Limited (Tk256,000), Basic Bank Limited (Tk50,000), Jibon Bima Corporation (Tk250,000), Bangladesh Commerce Bank Limited (Tk44,425), Uttara Bank Limited (Tk3,000,000), AB Bank Limited (Tk60,450), IFCI Bank Limited (Tk136,000), City Bank Limited (Tk57,000), ICB Islamic Bank Limited (Tk203,809), Eastern Bank Limited (Tk479,490), Social Islami Bank Limited (Tk40,000), Prime Bank Limited (Tk375,000), Dutch-Bangla Bank Limited (Tk170,000), Premier Bank Limited (Tk1,957,000), Bank Asia Limited (Tk3,390,126), and NRB Commercial Bank Limited (Tk10,000).
Muhith said the House Building and Finance Corporation filed a case with the Paltan police station against Hefazat’s violent activities on May 8. A case was also filed by Janata Bank against Hefazat’s secretaries Junaid Babunagri and Nur Hossain Kashemi which also included 200-300 activists for their violent activities.
Bangladesh Development Bank Limited also filed cases against Junaid Babunagri, he added.
Hefazat-e-Islam’s violent programme eventually prompted the authorities to slap a ban on all political activities in Motijheel.
