Labour and Employment Adviser M Sakhawat Hussain yesterday warned Premier Bank of stern actions if it did not disburse the Bangladesh Bank's cash incentive fund for payment of garment workers' salaries ahead of Eid.

The development comes as Premier Bank is adjusting the previous loan of Apparels Eco of TNZ Group with the cash incentive fund instead of disbursing the money meant for workers' salaries. Workers of TNZ Group have been demonstrating over their unpaid salaries and bonuses.

"You will have to release the of money -- if you do not disburse the money and if your bank does not allow then you will have to bear the responsibility for this," he said in a media briefing at the secretariat yesterday.

Sakhawat said he would "put a criminal offence" on Premier Bank's managing director if the money is not disbursed.

"We have given the money to the bank. This is meant for workers' salary payment -- there is no provision of loan adjustment with this money."

If the bank does not release the funds, the government will assume that the bank and its owners are working against the state and the government.

Mohammad Imran Iqbal is the chairman of Premier Bank, succeeding his father, the former Awami League lawmaker HBM Iqbal, who stepped down from the post after 26 years in January. His brother Moin Iqbal also stepped down as the vice-chairman of the bank then.

"This is the money of the Bangladesh government and please do not stand against the Bangladesh government. Please do not annoy us," he added.

Mohammad Abu Jafar, the MD and chief executive officer of Premier Bank, could not be reached for comment.

However, an official of the bank responded. "We have already disbursed the payment -- it was done after receiving approval from the central bank," he said asking not to be named.