Several protestors and police officers sustained injuries in Bangladesh as law enforcement used water cannons, tear gas, and sound grenades to disperse a demonstration outside the Islami Bank head office in Dhaka’s Dilkusha commercial area. The protest, led by the Islami Bank Disgruntled Customers’ Co-ordination Council and Islami Bank Customer Forum, aimed to oppose the appointment of Md Khurshid Alam as the bank’s new Chairman, deeming it controversial.
The demonstrators expressed their refusal to allow Alam entry into the bank, labeling his appointment as contentious. They claimed that over 100 individuals were hurt during the police intervention, although this assertion remains unverified independently. The protesters blocked roads, demanded the resignation of the new Chairman, and the reinstatement of Managing Director Omar Farooq Khan, who was recently placed on compulsory leave.
The situation intensified when a significant number of police officers, equipped with water cannons and riot gear, were dispatched to disperse the crowd. Witnesses reported that law enforcers used tear gas and water cannons, causing panic and resulting in a chaotic situation in the commercial hub area. The police confirmed injuries among their personnel due to stone-pelting by the demonstrators.
The demonstrators accused the police of using excessive force during what they described as a peaceful human chain. They criticized the police’s actions as unwarranted and brutal, emphasizing the need to safeguard their deposits from alleged corruption within the bank. The protesters also highlighted a liquidity crisis within the bank, affecting customers’ ability to withdraw cash from branches and ATMs.
