Police in Bangladesh have used water cannons, tear gas shells, and sound grenades to disperse hundreds of protesters outside the Islami Bank headquarters in Dhaka.
The clashes broke out on Monday morning in the capital’s Dilkusha commercial area, triggering a series of chases through the financial hub that left both demonstrators and police officers injured.
The demonstration was organised under the banners of the Islami Bank Disgruntled Customers’ Co-ordination Council and the Islami Bank Customer Forum.
Crowds began gathering outside the Islami Bank Tower as early as 6:00 am, carrying banners and blocking nearby roads to voice their anger over recent leadership changes.
The protesters opposed the appointment of former central bank Deputy Governor Md. Khurshid Alam as the bank’s new chairman.
They alleged that his appointment bypassed proper board procedures and reinstated close associates of the controversial S Alam Group.
The crowd demanded the new chairman’s immediate resignation and the reinstatement of Managing Director Omar Farooq Khan, who was recently sent on mandatory leave.
Tensions escalated significantly at around 9:30 am when a large contingent of police equipped with riot gear and water cannons moved in to clear the area.
Witnesses described scenes of panic as law enforcers fired tear gas shells, disrupting traffic and businesses throughout the busy commercial sector.
Organisers claimed that more than 100 people were injured during the police action, though this figure could not be independently verified.
Furthermore, the demonstrators alleged that at least 30 people sustained gunshot wounds, a claim that the Dhaka Metropolitan Police strongly denied, maintaining they did not open fire.
Professor Nurnabi Manik, president of the disgruntled customers’ council, strongly condemned the police intervention.
“We were holding a democratic and peaceful human chain to protect our deposits from being plundered by structural cronies of the fallen regime,” he said. “The unprovoked and brutal use of force by the police on ordinary citizens is entirely unacceptable.”
He further alleged that the bank is currently reeling under a severe liquidity crunch, which has left ordinary retail customers unable to withdraw cash from branches or automated teller machines.
He called on the central bank to immediately revoke the new chairman’s appointment and form a fresh board consisting of genuine stakeholders.
The law enforcers later cordoned off the entire area, completely restricting public and client access to the bank’s headquarters for the remainder of the day.
NM Nasiruddin, the police deputy commissioner for media and public relations, defended the police action, stating that the demonstrators had blocked key roads in Motijheel, caused massive traffic gridlocks, and hurled brickbats at officers.
“A group of dismissed Islami Bank employees had applied for rally permission, which was denied by the DMP headquarters,” he said. “The customer group, on the other hand, did not seek any prior permission at all.”
He stated that the police only used tear gas and water cannons to bring the situation under control.
According to police records, 10 personnel, including the assistant commissioner of patrol for the Motijheel zone, sustained injuries from stone-pelting. The injured individuals from both sides are currently undergoing treatment at various hospitals across the capital.
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