Clash erupts outside Islami Bank HQ in Motijheel, 30 injured

Clash Outside Islami Bank Headquarters Leaves at Least 30 Injured

Thebangladaily.com – At least 30 people were injured after opposing groups clashed outside the head office of Islami Bank Bangladesh PLC in Motijheel on Monday morning, September 14. The confrontation unfolded near Islami Bank Tower, where separate demonstrations had drawn rival groups to the area.

Members of the Islami Bank Conscious Customers’ Forum assembled in front of the building at about 8:30am. They were joined in the vicinity by a group of employees dismissed from different Islamic banks, who were holding a separate programme. The two sides had each announced their plans the previous day.

Tensions Escalate During Counter-Protests

The atmosphere became increasingly strained as the morning progressed. Around 10:00am, the competing programmes led to a confrontation, followed by an attack involving members of the customer forum.

Police moved in to bring the situation under control and dispersed both groups to stop the violence from spreading. Following the intervention, customer forum members remained positioned beneath the bank building, while the dismissed employees shifted their protest toward the Bangladesh Bank area.

The incident disrupted a busy commercial district where banks, offices and financial institutions are concentrated. Motijheel is one of Dhaka’s principal business hubs, and any disorder around major financial institutions can affect employees, customers and people travelling through the area for routine banking and work.

Five People Said to Be Seriously Hurt

Prof Nurunnabi Manik, president of the Islami Bank Conscious Customers’ Forum, said 30 activists from his organisation were injured during the assault. He stated that five of them suffered severe injuries.

Thirty of our activists were injured in the attack, and five sustained serious injuries.

The reported injuries underline how quickly demonstrations outside sensitive commercial locations can turn dangerous when groups with different demands gather at the same time. Police action prevented further escalation, though the incident left both sides continuing their campaigns in separate locations.

Customer Forum Raises Governance Concerns

The Conscious Customers’ Forum organised its demonstration around a set of demands focused on the bank’s management and the interests of depositors. The group called for the removal of what it described as the influence of S Alam Group within Islami Bank.

It also pressed for the restoration of sound governance and safeguards for depositors. These demands place the protest within a wider discussion about confidence in banking institutions, where customers depend on transparent management and stable operations to protect their savings and access financial services without disruption.

For depositors, questions of governance are not merely administrative matters. They can shape public trust in how a financial institution is run, how decisions are made and whether customer interests receive appropriate protection. The forum’s demonstration sought to put those concerns in public view outside the bank’s headquarters.

Dismissed Employees Seek Reinstatement

The second group, made up of terminated employees from various Islamic banks, came with a different demand: reinstatement to their jobs. They said they had been unfairly removed during evaluations of certificates and employment records conducted after an acquisition.

Their protest highlighted the employment-related consequences of institutional reviews, particularly when staff credentials and records become subject to scrutiny. The employees maintain that their dismissals were unjust and are seeking a return to their positions.

Although both groups gathered near the same site, their objectives were distinct. One focused on governance, depositor protection and the role of S Alam Group in Islami Bank; the other centred on employment status and claims of wrongful termination. The overlap of the two programmes contributed to the tense situation outside Islami Bank Tower.

Separate Demonstrations Continue

After police separated the groups, neither side immediately abandoned its demands. Customer forum activists stayed beneath the bank building, keeping their presence near the headquarters. The dismissed employees continued their activity after relocating toward Bangladesh Bank.

The separation of the demonstrations reduced the immediate risk of another confrontation, but the underlying disputes remained unresolved. The incident also demonstrated the importance of maintaining distance between competing gatherings, especially in crowded financial districts where tensions can escalate rapidly.

Authorities restored order at the scene after the clash, while the two groups continued to press their respective cases from different locations in Motijheel.