Bangladesh Bank has ruled out removing the newly appointed Chairman of Islami Bank Bangladesh PLC, Md Khurshid Alam, despite protests demanding the cancellation of his appointment.
Speaking on Monday, BB spokesperson Arif Hossain Khan said the central bank would not alter its decision in response to ongoing demonstrations.
Earlier in the day, a group of protesters under the banner of the Islami Bank Customers' Forum staged a rally in front of the bank’s head office in Motijheel, Dhaka, demanding the withdrawal of Khurshid’s appointment.
Police later dispersed the demonstrators using batons, water cannons, tear gas, and sound grenades. Several people were reportedly injured during the clashes.
Commenting on the protests, Arif said the appointment decision was unrelated to the demonstrations.
“The movement has no connection with the appointment. If Bangladesh Bank changes a decision because of one protest, and another group then launches a counter-protest against that decision, what would the central bank do? Bangladesh Bank will continue to operate according to its own procedures,” he said.
He further stressed that there was no possibility of the central bank revising its decision due to pressure from street protests.
On 24 May, Bangladesh Bank appointed former governor Md Khurshid Alam as chairman of Islami Bank.
Earlier that same day, former chairman M Zubaidur Rahman, who had been appointed during the interim government's tenure, resigned following protests by a group identifying themselves as customers and officials of the bank.
Meanwhile, the bank’s managing director remains on extended leave, according to sources.
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