Police use water cannons, batons to disperse Islami Bank protesters

Police used water cannons and tear gas and baton charged this morning to disperse demonstrators in front of the Islami Bank Bangladesh PLC headquarters.

Protesters gathered in front of the Shariah-based bank and formed a human chain under the banner of the Conscious Customers' Forum, demanding the resignation of the bank's newly appointed chairman.

Witnesses said demonstrators carried banners and placards and chanted slogans. They also demanded the resignation of the Bangladesh Bank (BB) governor.

At one point, clashes broke out between police and demonstrators.

Police launched an operation around 9:30 am to disperse the protesters, charging at them with batons and using water cannons and tear gas.

Witnesses said the confrontation led to a series of chases and counter-chases between protesters and law enforcement personnel. Several people were injured.

A tense situation prevailed in the area.

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Police launched an operation around 9:30am to disperse the protesters. Photo: Star

The demonstrators alleged that police used excessive force against what they described as a peaceful programme.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) spokesperson Deputy Commissioner (Media) NM Nasiruddin told The Daily Star that police repeatedly requested the demonstrators to clear the area, as it is a busy commercial zone and their presence could disrupt normal business activities.

However, he said, the demonstrators behaved aggressively towards police. As they refused to leave, police used water cannons and sound grenades to disperse them.

"The situation is now normal," he added.

On May 24, late in the evening, BB appointed Md Khurshid Alam, a former deputy governor, as chairman of Islami Bank, hours after the previous chairman resigned. The appointment was made the day before the country entered a nearly week-long Eid holiday.

Alam was among the top BB officials who were forced to leave the central bank by more than a hundred protesting officials on August 6, a day after the fall of the Sheikh Hasina-led government following a popular uprising in July 2024.

The appointment of Alam sparked widespread discussion in the banking sector. Many alleged that his role was controversial during the tenure of the Awami League government, when S Alam, a Chattogram-based businessman, took control of a number of Shariah-based banks and was involved in loan irregularities.