A crowd gathers outside Islami Bank Tower in Dhaka's Motijheel district on Sunday following a clash between bank staff and S Alam Group people that left at least six people injured in a shooting. — FE Photo by Asad-Uz-Zaman A daylight shootout Sunday at Islami Bank allegedly over ownership feuds left several people injured, prompting the finance adviser of the just-installed interim government to warn stern legal action against those responsible.
"None will be spared. Legal action will be taken immediately against those whoever responsible," the Finance and Planning Adviser, Dr Salehuddin Ahmed, told newsmen after the incident.
Mr Ahmed, speaking at his Bangladesh secretariat office, reminds that once he was magistrate of the government and he has vast experience in maintaining law and order.
"We will book the people responsible for the incident. None is allowed to…" he said after the incident at the Islami Bank Bangladesh PLC head office.
The adviser said he would discuss the issue with authorities concerned. If necessary, he will visit the spot with the law-enforcement agencies.
Replying to a query, he said a new governor of the central bank and next chairman of Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission will be appointed soon.
Meantime, on Sunday, the central bank asked all to refrain from doing any unlawful activity in the bank companies which may lead to lack of confidence among the depositors.
In a circular the BB Banking Regulation and Policy Department said it came to the attention of the central bank that some "unlawful activities" have been taking place at the office of some banks.
"These kinds of activities have been hindering normal activities and transactions at the banks."
The central bank also issues a strongly worded warning that such "unlawful deeds are punishable offence under the section 57 (2) of the Bank Companies Act 1991".
The Islami bank's officials backed by S Alam Group reportedly opened fire on older employees during a clash over control of the bank.
The injured were identified as Shafiullah, Abdullah Al Mamun, Abdur Rahman and Bakibillah. Two others remained unidentified.
They were receiving treatment at Islami Bank Central Hospital, according to a bank official.
The violence erupted in a confrontation between staff hired before 2017 and those employed afterwards by S Alam Group-a Chattogram-based conglomerate that took ownership of the bank in 2017.
"Yesterday [Saturday] we received information that members of various companies under S Alam, along with some bank officials who have been involved in looting the bank, planned to place their people in key positions within the bank," said Dr Shawkat Ali, senior executive vice president of Islami Bank.
"To prevent them from entering, we took up positions in front of the bank. At one point, S Alam's people gathered at City Centre and tried to march into the headquarters," said Mr Ali.
He added that when Islami Bank officials tried to stop them, S Alam's people opened fire, injuring six people.
He said the 'Anti-Discrimination Bankers' resisted the attack, forcing S Alam people to flee the scene.
Since the Chattogram-based S Alam Group took control of Islami Bank in 2017, nearly 14,000 staff members have been hired, mostly from Patiya, where the group's owners come from. Before 2017, the bank had about an 8,000-strong staff.
Sources within the bank and eyewitnesses said the conflict began when staff hired before 2017 blocked those employed after that date from getting in the headquarters. Most of the latter group are from the Patiya sub-district of Chattogram-the area of the S Alam industrial empire, and are often referred to as 'Patiya employees'.
According to eyewitnesses, the clash escalated when older staff tried to block Patiya employees. Gunshots were fired, injuring several people, including one critically. Older staff blamed the Patiya employees for the shooting.
Discontent at Islami Bank has been brewing since the Awami League government's downfall in the face of a student-mass uprising. The day after, a protest was held at the bank's headquarters, barring entry to staff hired after 2017.
Islami Bank's CBA leader Anisur Rahman said no executives hired after 2017 would be allowed in. Irregular appointments since 2017 would be cancelled, jobs illegally terminated during that period reinstated and promotions denied in the past seven years would be given.
The S Alam Group is accused of withdrawing large sums from the bank, creating a deficit in its account with the Bangladesh Bank. The central bank has provided emergency funds to keep the bank operating.
After the Awami League government's fall, the bank's Managing Director, Mohammed Monirul Moula, didn't turn up. The older employees announced that if Mr Moula attempted to enter the bank, he would also be blocked.
The employees demanded a board shakeup to remove "looters" and the dismissal of Mr Moula, additional managing director Kausar Ali and deputy managing directors Akij Uddin and Miftah Uddin, among others, appointed after S Alam takeover.
Tensions remained high until 3 pm on Sunday, with staff members demonstrating outside the bank.
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