MM Rahmatullah : The Islamic Bank Conscious Customers’ Forum has announced a programme to submit a memorandum to the Ministry of Finance on Wednesday, pressing for the implementation of a seven-point charter of demands, including the resignation of Islamic Bank Chairman Khurshid Alam.The announcement was made by Forum President Professor Nur Nabi Manik following a sit-in programme held in front of the bank’s head office in the capital on Tuesday. A large number of depositors and customers of the bank participated in the demonstration.Among the key demands raised by the forum are the removal of Chairman Khurshid Alam, ensuring the safety and security of depositors’ funds, protecting customers’ interests, removing S. Alam Group and its associates from the bank, and protesting what the forum described as police action against customers during previous programmes.Addressing the gathering, Professor Manik alleged that despite nine consecutive days of demonstrations and protest activities, the relevant authorities had yet to take any visible initiative to address the concerns of depositors. He warned that customers could be compelled to announce tougher programmes if effective measures were not taken promptly to safeguard their interests.He further claimed that Khurshid Alam had been appointed chairman of Islamic Bank following a decision by Bangladesh Bank, a move that, according to him, has not been accepted by a significant section of the bank’s depositors. Reiterating the demand for a change in leadership, he said such a step was necessary to restore customer confidence in the institution.The forum leaders also called for an investigation into allegations of police interference in their peaceful demonstrations and demanded appropriate action against those responsible. They urged the authorities concerned to take swift steps to resolve the issues, taking into account the concerns and interests of the bank’s customers.The memorandum is expected to be submitted to the Ministry of Finance as part of the forum’s ongoing campaign to press for its demands.
