No way to open lockers without customer’s key: Islami Bank vice president
Lockers can only be opened with the key that customers possess, he said
There is no way for the bank's staff to open lockers without a customer's key, SM Shafiqul Mawla Chowdhury, Islami Bank Chawkbazar branch manager and vice president of the bank has claimed.
"It is impossible for bank staff to steal anything from a customer's locker. Lockers can only be opened with the key that customers possess," the branch manager told journalists at his office on Sunday (2 June), denying allegations of theft of 149 bhori of gold from a customer's locker at the branch in Chattogram.
On 29 May, Rokeya Akter Bari, a customer of the bank, visited the Chawkbazar branch to retrieve gold jewellery. She alleged that upon requesting the officer to open her allocated locker, they discovered it was already open.
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Rokeya reported that the locker contained 149 bhori of gold jewellery, including bangles, necklaces, chains, rings, and earrings worth approximately Tk1.5 crore. Upon opening the locker, she found only 10 to 11 bhori of gold remaining.
Chawkbazar police station advised filing a formal case, and the customer is now pursuing legal action through the court.
VP Shafiqul said, "After completing the documentation formalities, including signing the registry book, the bank's designated locker in-charge opens the locker room using the master key and allows the customer to enter. The customer then completes their task, locks their locker chamber under their responsibility, and exits. Subsequently, our officer closes the locker room door.
"The bank does not have a second key to the customer's locker. We do not know what they have kept inside. However, there are adequate security measures in place. According to Bangladesh Bank regulations, there is no provision for installing CCTV cameras in lockers."
The VP said that a three-member committee has been formed in connection with this incident. Additionally, senior bank officials have inspected the branch.
"Since it is impossible to open the locker without the customer, we believe that the customer might have accidentally or carelessly left the locker partially open when they last checked out from the locker room. However, everything depends on the report of the investigating team," Shafiqul said.
He also said that in case of theft or robbery, customers can receive insurance money based on the size of their locker. The victim, who had a medium-sized locker, will be eligible for Tk2 lakh if her claim is approved. This insurance applies to all branches and is a service provided by the bank's head office.
