Opposition Leader and Jamaat-e-Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman on Tuesday raised concerns in Parliament over what he described as renewed attempts by a group to gain control of Islami Bank Bangladesh PLC, calling for immediate discussion and institutional safeguards.
Raising the issue during the budget session of the 13th Jatiya Sangsad, he said Islami Bank is the country’s largest private-sector bank and plays a significant role in handling remittance inflows, making its stability crucial for the national economy.
He claimed that the bank had performed strongly in 2016 despite political pressure, reporting a profit of over Tk447 crore with a relatively low non-performing loan ratio of around 4 per cent. However, he alleged that subsequent political interference led to a takeover of the institution and a deterioration in financial health, with profits declining sharply by 2024.
The Opposition Leader further stated that non-performing loans have now risen to nearly 51 per cent of total investments, while dividend payments have been suspended in recent years. He added that although the bank had begun showing signs of recovery, including an increase in profits from Tk108 crore to Tk137 crore, a renewed effort was underway to influence its management structure.
Shafiqur Rahman also alleged that the recent appointment of a new chairman had triggered controversy, alongside pressure that led to the resignation of the managing director. He further claimed that recent uncertainty had caused liquidity stress, including significant withdrawal pressure from depositors.
At one stage, the Speaker of Parliament interrupted his statement, asking him to conclude the submission later, preventing the full reading of his notice.
In his remarks, he also rejected claims that the bank was controlled by any single political group, arguing that such narratives were misleading and harmful to public confidence.
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