Islami Bank is not Islam, Jamaat-e-Islami is not Islam: Home minister

Published : Tuesday, 9 June, 2026 at 9:29 PM Count : 20

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed on Tuesday urged people not to equate Islami Bank or any political party with Islam.

“Islami Bank is not Islam, Mirza Fakhrul Islam is not Islam, and Jamaat-e-Islami is not Islam. It is not right to invoke Islam in everything,” he said.

The home minister made the remarks while participating in a general discussion in Parliament on a Rule 68 notice brought by Opposition Leader Shafiqur Rahman concerning Islami Bank.

Earlier in the session, presided over by Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed, Deputy Opposition Leader Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher criticised recent changes in the board of directors and top management of Islami Bank Bangladesh PLC.

Taher alleged that the bank had been trying to recover from the impact of alleged looting by the S Alam Group, but controversial individuals had now been appointed to key positions.

Responding to the criticism, the home minister said Bangladesh Bank has the authority under the Bank Companies Act to take necessary measures regarding the bank’s chairman and members of the board of directors.

“If there are objections, they should be addressed through the legal process,” he said.

Salahuddin also alleged that a section of people was deliberately attempting to create instability surrounding Islami Bank and was trying to organise protests under the guise of customers.

“The opposition has every right to play its political role. However, people should not be misled through propaganda, whether conducted openly or from behind the scenes,” he said.

Referring to the ongoing debate over the bank’s shares and ownership structure, the minister said allegations regarding share trading, ownership changes or irregularities should be investigated.

He added that the Anti-Corruption Commission could also examine such allegations if necessary.

He noted that different information regarding the bank’s shareholding structure had emerged and stressed the need to disclose accurate data and statistics to the public.

The minister called on the finance minister and the governor of Bangladesh Bank to publish detailed information on the matter.

Urging politicians not to use religion in political disputes, he said no bank, individual or political party should be portrayed as a representative of Islam.

“The issue of Islam should not be mixed with political debates,” he said.

Assuring Parliament, the minister said the interests of legitimate shareholders of Islami Bank would be protected and all share transfer issues would be resolved in accordance with the law.

He also said investigations would be conducted into individuals and institutions that had taken money from the bank in the past and failed to repay it.

FP/MI