B Mirror Report: Mostakur Rahman has delivered a strong message that Islami Bank will no longer operate under the influence of any political party, group, or family.

In this regard, he said the bank must now be run in a neutral manner. Officials must play a responsible role, and the central bank will always stand by them with support.

He made these remarks on Monday during a meeting with the chairman, board members, and top কর্মকর্তারা of Islami Bank at Bangladesh Bank.

At the meeting, the governor said that Islami Bank was once one of the country’s leading banks, but governance weaknesses emerged over time. He assured that the central bank would provide all necessary support to help the bank overcome the situation and regain a strong position.

He further stated that during Sheikh Hasina’s tenure, the bank had become aligned with a particular party or group. However, such opportunities no longer exist, and there is now no scope for working in favor of any party, group, or family.

Meanwhile, it was learned that no discussion took place in the meeting regarding the recent protest by several হাজার dismissed employees, who staged a demonstration in front of the central bank demanding reinstatement.

On the other hand, a major loan controversy involving the S Alam Group has come to light. According to a Bangladesh Bank report, the group borrowed around Tk 190,000 crore from several banks under its control. Allegations include large-scale money laundering through fake entities. Of this amount, more than Tk 105,000 crore was taken from Islami Bank alone. The report also mentioned the involvement of the group’s chairman, Saiful Alam Masud.

Despite these controversies, the bank has shown some progress. After being freed from S Alam’s control during the interim government period, Islami Bank managed to mobilize nearly Tk 50,000 crore in deposits despite various challenges. By the end of 2025, its total deposits rose to Tk 183,000 crore. Remittance inflow, import-export trade, and the number of clients have also increased significantly.

There has also been some improvement in non-performing loans. From Tk 106,000 crore in September 2025, defaulted loans declined to Tk 92,115 crore by the end of December, marking a reduction of around Tk 14,000 crore in three months.

Stakeholders believe that if good governance is ensured and the bank is run free from undue influence, Islami Bank can regain its previous strong position.