Islami Bank pledges to keep customers' deposits safe
Islami Bank Bangladesh Ltd will pay utmost priority to safeguarding the deposits of its customers, said the lender on the heels of the wholesale changes in its board.
The commitment was reiterated at the bank's annual business conference in Dhaka on Friday.
“The bank's service will remain open for all people irrespective of religion, colour, caste and creed,” said a statement from the bank at the close of the two-day conference.
Islami Bank has a deposit of Tk 68,000 crore and an advance of Tk 65,000 crore.
The conference came a week after a major reshuffle in the board and management of the bank.
On January 5, former bureaucrat Arastoo Khan, a representative of little known companies to the board, was elected chairman.
Changes were also brought to the posts of managing director and heads of various committees of the bank and chief of the Islami Bank Foundation.
Now, of the 16 board of directors, seven are independent directors, seven from little known companies and two are foreign sponsors' representatives.
Islami Bank is working with the government to help achieve the Sustainable Development Goals of the UN, Khan said in his concluding speech at the conference.
He said all banks and financial institutions are now enjoying the benefits of 'Digital Bangladesh'. He also stressed expansion of digital services in Islami Bank.
Khan urged all managers to give more attention to customer services with due compliance of Shariah principles and all rules and regulations, integrity, efficiency and professionalism.
Among the directors, Abdul Mabud, chairman of the risk management committee; Humayun Kabir; Joynal Abedin; Mizanur Rahman; Sirajul Karim; and Mohammad Abdus Samad, member secretary of the Shariah supervisory committee, also spoke.
Islami Bank has been working to build a self-reliant Bangladesh free from hunger, poverty and economic disparity, according to the statement.
While giving priority to the agriculture sector and agro-based industries, the directors emphasised SMEs, women entrepreneur development, employment generation, and growth in deposits, remittance and international trade.
On January 8, Finance Minister AMA Muhith applauded the bank as the country's No. 1 bank in terms of business. The expansion of the bank is down to the good services it provides to its clients.
He also said he does not think the sudden changes will significantly affect the health of the bank.
Several local companies have bought the bulk of the local shares in the bank over the last one and a half years, leading to the latest reshuffle at its top level.
Abdul Hamid Miah, Islami Bank's managing director, presided over the conference.