Depositors from several Islamic banks staged a human chain and sit‑in outside Bangladesh Bank in Dhaka’s Motijheel district, demanding urgent action over what they describe as unfair profit cuts and restricted access to their own savings. The demonstration quickly escalated when protesters occupied the road, prompting law enforcement to disperse them with water cannons.
The protesters allege that a decision taken by a former central bank governor slashed profit rates for five Shariah‑based banks over the past two years, leaving depositors with returns as low as 4 percent. Many say they have been unable to withdraw their principal deposits or expected profits, pushing families into severe financial hardship.
Participants in the human chain issued a three‑point demand. They called for the full return of deposits along with complete profit payments for 2024 and 2025, as originally agreed. They also urged authorities to restore normal banking operations at the affected Islamic banks, ensuring they function like other scheduled banks. Additionally, they demanded immediate payment of all matured savings instruments including Fixed Deposits (FD), Deposit Pension Schemes (DPS), and Mudaraba Term Deposit Receipts (MTDR) according to contractual terms.
Frustration among depositors is mounting. Protest leaders announced that if their demands are not met promptly, they will launch a siege of Bangladesh Bank on March 12, signalling a potential escalation in the standoff.
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