Published: 12:08 AM, 05 May 2026
Angry depositors blockade merged banks in Chattogram
Hundreds of depositors marched to Agrabad, the city's commercial hub, and locked down a branch of Exim Bank at around 11am on Monday (4 May 2026). They later held similar protests at branches of Union Bank and First Security Islami Bank PLC.
At that time, the protesters raised slogans like "My money is in the bank, why am I on the streets", "Who are you, who am I, depositors, depositors", "No excuse will be accepted about holding back our deposits'. After a couple of hours the angry depositors moved around different parts of Agrabad area. Police personnel were deployed at those places to restrain the furious account holders from doing untoward things.
Global Islami Bank depositor Nafisa Afrin Namu said, "We will not allow banks to deduct any amount from our deposits. Banks must disburse the full deposited sums without playing vile tricks with us".
Retired government employee Md. Jashim Uddin said, "I have about one crore taka deposited in First Security Bank. Now I am in extreme danger because I cannot withdraw that money."
The protesters said that they started a program of locking down branches after submitting memorandums to various departments for a long time but their problems were not resolved. They also announced that they will hold a bigger program if their demands are not met immediately.
Exim Bank Agrabad branch manager Enayet Karim said, "There is a limited amount of money withdrawal opportunity as per the central bank's instructions. Customers can withdraw up to a maximum of two lakh taka and approval from the head office is required for large sums of money. Although the demand from depositors is high, we have nothing to do without the central bank's instructions."
Earlier on Sunday, depositors held a protest and sit-in program in front of the branches of Union Bank and First Security Islami Bank in Khatunganj area. More than a hundred customers participated in the program that started in the morning. At one stage, they entered the bank, forced out the bank officials from the room and locked down the main gate. Later on the depositors agitated in front of other branches of the above banks with the same demand.
Reports have surfaced that under the directives of Bangladesh Bank, related institutions including Union Bank and First Security Islami Bank are under the structure managed by five Islamic banks. However, economists have expressed grim worries about the all out circumstances. Financial experts said that such protests by general depositors will greatly harm people's confidence on the country's banking system.
>>Bashir Al Mamun, AA
