Keep Your Faith in Islami Bank: Official-in-Charge Zahir
Graphics: Agamir Somoy
Mohammad Zahir Hossain, the Bangladesh Bank Executive Director in charge of the Islami Bank board (currently serving as Chairman), has said that there is no opportunity to look back. Urging depositors to continue their transactions smoothly, he requested them to trust the bank.
He also said a thorough screening process is underway to quickly form a full-fledged board of directors comprising qualified and completely neutral individuals.
He made these remarks while speaking to journalists at the bank's head office on Monday. The bank's Managing Director (in current charge), Md. Altaf Hossain, along with other senior officials, was present at the time.
Regarding the formation of a neutral board of directors for Islami Bank, Mohammad Zahir Hossain said that a five-member full-fledged board is being formed. "A screening process is necessary. We want to appoint completely neutral individuals who can efficiently manage this bank. I hope you will see a good and neutral board very soon," he said.
He also stated that he is currently serving as a single-member board for a limited period to ensure that there is no disruption to the bank's operations.
Addressing the depositors, Mohammad Zahir Hossain said, "There is no opportunity to look back. Continue your transactions smoothly. Keep your trust in the bank."
Meanwhile, the acting Managing Director (MD) of Islami Bank, Altaf Hossain, informed that the bank has received an additional Tk 2,500 crore as liquidity support from Bangladesh Bank. "We also received Tk 2,500 crore from Bangladesh Bank yesterday. The entire amount has not yet been used. I hope that those who withdrew their money in panic will return again, trusting the bank," he said.
Altaf Hossain also mentioned that according to information obtained from a major branch of the bank, the number of account closures has decreased by approximately 75 percent compared to before, which signals a positive sign of customers' confidence returning.
Regarding the use of the former chairman's car, he said that according to bank rules, the chairman uses an official car. The car will be taken back immediately upon handover of the removal letter.
When asked about the possibility of bringing back former MD Omar Faruk, the official-in-charge of the board, Zahir Hossain, said, "He has already submitted his resignation, and the board has accepted it. Therefore, there is no opportunity to bring him back to duty."
