Peshajibi Parishad to protest in Ctg demanding return of depositors' money from 5 banks
Said depositors owed Tk26,000cr; threaten nationwide demos
The Bangladesh Sammilita Peshajibi Parishad (BSPP) in Chattogram has expressed concern over the failure of five banks, including Union Bank and Global Bank, in returning customers' deposits and announced to hold an indefinite sit-in protest in this regard.
In a media statement yesterday (14 October), the BSPP leaders announced that the protest will take place in front of all bank offices in Chattogram on 20 October, with the possibility of a nationwide escalation if depositors' funds are not returned promptly.
They claimed that Tk26,000 crore, allegedly linked to S Alam Group, remains stuck in these banks.
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Despite repeated appeals to the Bangladesh Bank governor to intervene, no effective action has been taken so far.
The delayed return of funds has left millions of customers in financial misery, with many unable to meet essential daily expenses, including rent, utility bills, and grocery purchases.
This unresolved situation has created widespread dissatisfaction across various sectors of the society, the statement reads.
The BSPP leaders warned that if the depositors' money is not refunded, stricter programmes will be announced.
The BSPP leaders also called for immediate financial assistance from the state treasury to the affected banks, confiscation of the assets of those involved in misappropriating funds and immediate refund of the depositors' money to prevent further escalation of the crisis.
"Central bank and Finance and Planning Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed will bear full responsibility for any adverse consequences if the crisis continues," the organisation said in the statement.
The leaders have called on the government to take swift action to end the harassment of depositors and ensure the return of their money.
They also warned that failure to resolve the crisis would result in continuous sit-ins and mass protests across the country.
The statement was signed by leaders including Journalist Zahidul Karim Kochi, convener of BSPP Chattogram, Dr Khurshid Jamil Chowdhury, member secretary; Professor Nasrul Kadir Chowdhury, convenor of the Nationalist University Teachers Forum, Shahnewaz, president of Chittagong Metropolitan Union of Journalists, Advocate Hasan Arif, general secretary of the Nationalist Lawyers Forum, Engineer Jane Alam Salim, president of AAB Chattogram Divisional Branch; Dr Jasim Uddin Chowdhury, president of DAB Medical College Branch, and Jasim Uddin Feroz, president of Zilla Parishad Chattogram, among others.
