Bangladesh Bank Directs Sammilita Islami Bank on Withdrawals
Bangladesh Bank has instructed Sammilita Islami Bank PLC to allow individual depositors to withdraw funds starting September 1. The central bank also ordered the institution to clarify that there will be no reduction, or haircut, applied to depositors' profits.
DHAKA, BANGLADESH — In a significant development for the nation's financial sector, top officials from Bangladesh Bank held a high-level meeting on Monday, August 25, 2025, to address ongoing concerns regarding Sammilita Islami Bank PLC. The discussions brought together central bank leadership and key executives from the commercial institution to outline immediate operational steps and reassure the public regarding the safety of their financial assets.
During the Monday session, Bangladesh Bank governor Mostakur Rahman met directly with Sammilita Islami Bank PLC chairman Kazi Shayrul Hasan and managing director Abedur Rahman Sikdar. The meeting was convened to address critical issues facing the institution and to establish a clear roadmap for restoring normal financial services to the public as quickly as possible.
As an outcome of these discussions, Bangladesh Bank has issued specific directives to the commercial lender. Most notably, the central bank instructed Sammilita Islami Bank to clearly and transparently inform all depositors that there will be no haircut—meaning no reduction or deduction—applied to their earned profits. This measure is designed to instill confidence and alleviate widespread anxieties among account holders concerning the security of their returns.
In addition to the profit reassurances, concrete steps have been established to ease liquidity concerns for everyday customers. Bangladesh Bank mandated that individual depositors will officially be permitted to withdraw money from their various accounts starting September 1, 2025. This targeted timeline aims to orderly manage customer outflows while providing reliable access to personal funds.
The regulatory interventions also emphasize the broader operational trajectory of the financial institution. Sammilita Islami Bank PLC originally commenced its corporate journey backed by a substantial capital of 35,000 crore taka operating as a state-owned Islamic bank. With the new directives now in place, the central bank expects the institution to resume its normal banking operations swiftly and efficiently.
