Customers have staged protests by locking five branches of Shariah-based banks currently undergoing a merger process, demanding the withdrawal of the decision to suspend profit on deposits and the removal of withdrawal limits to restore normal banking operations on Monday morning the customers locked the banks and formed a human chain in front of the World Trade Center in Agrabad the banks under the merger process include EXIM Bank Social Islami Bank First Security Islami Bank Global Islami Bank and Union Bank earlier similar protests were held in Khatunganj where several branches were locked by depositors the main demands of the customers are to immediately cancel the decision to suspend profits and to provide full assurance of returning their deposited money they also demanded lifting withdrawal restrictions and taking effective steps to restore customer confidence eyewitnesses said that around 10 am depositors brought out a procession on Agrabad Access Road and later locked branches of EXIM Bank First Security Islami Bank and Social Islami Bank before gathering in front of the World Trade Center protesters were also seen demonstrating in front of a Social Islami Bank branch on the second floor while police were deployed near a regional office of the merged banks on the ground floor at one stage protesters locked that office as well leaving several কর্মকর্তারা temporarily confined inside at that time more than a hundred customers were seen chanting slogans saying “my money is in the bank why am I on the street” expressing frustration over not being able to withdraw their savings depositor Samina Akter said she had saved money for future security but now cannot withdraw it when needed with Eid-ul-Adha approaching she fears she may not be able to perform Qurbani earlier on Sunday similar protests took place in front of Union Bank in Khatunganj where Mohammad Azam general secretary of the Chattogram branch of the affected depositors association questioned whether customers would get their money back and under which identity it would be returned as a merged bank or individual entities he said there is no clear explanation and they demand assurance association president Abul Kalam Azad said they had deposited their life savings in banks for security but now have to take to the streets to withdraw their own money ahead of Eid with family responsibilities they demand quick return of their deposits Officer-in-Charge of Double Mooring Police Station Jamal Uddin Khan said police quickly reached the scene and brought the situation under control the locks were removed and no untoward incident occurred
Depositors locked out of 5 branches of Sammilita Islami Bank in Chittagong
