HC directs BB to resolve reinstatement plea of sacked Al-Arafah Bank officials
The High Court has directed the Bangladesh Bank to quickly resolve the applications submitted by 547 dismissed officials of Al-Arafah Islami Bank to the central bank seeking reinstatement to their jobs.
The governor of Bangladesh Bank has been instructed to implement the directive. The court has also issued a rule asking the authorities concerned to explain as to why the removal of the Al-Arafah Islami Bank officials should not be declared illegal.
The HC bench of Justice Md Akram Hossain Chowdhury and Justice Foyej Ahmed issued the order yesterday following a hearing on the writ petition filed by the dismissed bank officials.
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During the hearing, Barrister Mahbub Uddin Khokon and Barrister HM Sanjid Siddiqi argued for the petitioners in the courtroom.
Previously, on 28 July, 300 sacked officials of Al-Arafah Islami Bank filed a writ in the High Court seeking its directive against the dismissal of 547 officials from the bank, alleging that the removals were carried out in violation of Bangladesh Bank's directives and without any prior notice. They also requested the reinstatement of the officials to their respective positions.
The dismissed employees were part of a group of 1,414 officers who underwent an evaluation process after investigations into alleged recruitment irregularities during the period when S Alam Group controlled the bank.
They were terminated from their positions within Al-Arafah Islami Bak on 20 July.
In response, they submitted applications to the central bank seeking reinstatement to their jobs.
"Despite there being no valid reason for our termination, we were deliberately and unlawfully dismissed based on false pretexts. No specific allegations were made, nor were we served any notice to show cause. Our performance evaluation test is being wrongfully used as a justification for dismissal, and there are concerning attempts underway to recruit new employees against our positions in a planned manner," they alleged in the petition.
