Dismissed employees of Islamic banks hold protest in Ctg demanding reinstatement

Dismissed employees of five Islamic banks staged a human chain and sit-in programme in Chattogram today (22 June), demanding reinstatement and the implementation of a 10-point charter of demands.

The demonstration took place in front of the Chattogram regional office of the Bangladesh Bank in the morning. Participants later marched to the New Market intersection, where they continued their protest. Police subsequently requested that the demonstrators clear the road and later dispersed them from the area.

The protesters alleged that following the political changeover on 5 August 2024, influential groups interfered in the operations of several Islamic banks, leading to widespread layoffs, punitive transfers, deactivation of employee IDs, and various forms of administrative harassment. They claimed that nearly 10,000 officers and employees had been affected by these measures.

According to the demonstrators, employees of Islami Bank Bangladesh PLC, First Security Islami Bank PLC, Union Bank PLC, Al-Arafah Islami Bank PLC, and Social Islami Bank PLC had been dismissed through various processes.

From the protest venue, participants called on the governor of Bangladesh Bank to address their concerns and submitted a 10-point list of demands. Key demands included the reinstatement of dismissed employees with all previous benefits intact, the restructuring of bank boards and management teams with qualified and professional personnel, and ensuring good governance across the banking sector.

The protesters also demanded an end to political interference in banking, legal action against individuals involved in political activities within the sector, punishment for those accused of creating artificial crises and panic among customers, and an impartial investigation into allegations of irregularities and abuse of power in the banking industry since 5 August 2024.

One dismissed bank official participating in the programme alleged that disciplinary actions had been taken against employees without following established human resources policies. He said they would continue their movement in pursuit of justice and the restoration of their jobs.

At the end of the programme, a delegation of protesters submitted a memorandum outlining their 10-point demands to the regional director of Bangladesh Bank in Chattogram.