Court summons 3 top brass of Islami Bank, BB governor over mass layoffs
A Dhaka court has summoned the managing director, additional managing director, and chief human resource officer of Islami Bank Bangladesh, along with the Bangladesh Bank governor, over the reported termination of around 5,000 employees and the bank's subsequent move to recruit new staff for the same positions.
The Fifth Joint District Judge's Court issued the summons yesterday after taking into record a declaration suit filed by two terminated employees – SM Emdad Hossain, a former officer of IBB's Rangamati branch, and Md Arfan Ullah, a junior officer of the Halishahar branch in Chattogram.
The court order comes just two days before Islami Bank's planned recruitment examination on 1 November to hire trainee assistant officers and trainee assistant officers (cash).
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According to the petition, nearly 5,000 permanent employees were dismissed by the bank between August and October this year "without due process and in violation of labour laws."
The plaintiffs claimed the mass terminations were arbitrary and exceeded the bank's legal authority. They urged the court to declare the terminations unlawful, halt the recruitment process, and order the reinstatement of the dismissed employees with full pay and benefits.
The plaintiffs also requested the court to direct Bangladesh Bank, the regulator of all scheduled banks, to ensure that Islami Bank halts its recruitment process until the legality of the dismissals is resolved.
Confirming the order, Advocate Masum, lawyer for the plaintiffs, told The Business Standard, "The Fifth Joint District Judge has issued summons to Islami Bank's top management and the Bangladesh Bank governor, asking them to appear before the court and explain the grounds for both the mass termination and the planned recruitment drive."
"Notices have already been served to the summoned officials, and they have acknowledged receipt," he added.
Supreme Court lawyer Mohammad Saiful Islam said the court's summons carries significant legal weight that should prompt the bank to pause its recruitment exam.
"If Islami Bank respects the rule of law, it should suspend the examination scheduled for 1 November until the matter is settled," he said.
