Islami Bank shareholders stage protests nationwide, seeks removal of S Alam-appointed staff

The Islami Bank Shareholders' Forum has staged human chains and protest rallies across all districts and divisional cities, alongside simultaneous demonstrations at every branch in Dhaka and the bank's central office in Dilkusha, demanding the removal of officials appointed under the influence of the S Alam Group.

Speakers at today's rallies accused the bank of harbouring illegally appointed and inefficient staff linked to S Alam, warning that if they are not removed by next Thursday, a larger protest movement would follow.

Several organisations joined the demonstrations, including the Islami Bank Clients' Forum, Socheton Babsayi Forum, Islami Bank Former Bankers' Council, Anti-Discrimination Job Seekers' Council, Socheton Peshajibi Group, Islami Bank CBA, and the Socheton Bankers' Society.

The demonstrators alleged that S Alam assumed control of Islami Bank in 2017 by using state machinery, coercing legitimate shareholders to relinquish their ownership and forcing out foreign investors through intimidation.

Since then, they claimed, thousands of individuals had been appointed without due process, many from S Alam's home upazila of Patiya in Chattogram, undermining the bank's professionalism and service quality.

They also argued that dismissing those unlawfully appointed could not be considered a human-rights violation, as the real injustice had been inflicted on citizens across 63 districts who lost opportunities to work at the bank. 

They vowed to "rescue Islami Bank from the grip of the mafia at any cost".

According to the speakers, between 2017 and August 2024, a total of 7,224 individuals from Chattogram, more than 4,500 from Patiya alone, were recruited into Islami Bank without following proper recruitment procedures. 

They said such secretive and regionally biased appointments had severely damaged the bank's discipline and meritocracy.

Competency test dispute

To assess the qualifications of these employees, Islami Bank arranged a special examination on 27 September through the Institute of Business Administration (IBA) at the University of Dhaka. Of the 5,385 officials called, 4,971 reportedly refused to take the test, with only 414 participating.

In response, the bank placed the non-compliant officials on special duty (OSD) and dismissed 400 individuals for defying the management's directive. They have also been instructed to refrain from all operational activities until further notice.

Earlier, the dismissed officials announced an indefinite strike from Sunday, following a press conference on Friday. However, the protest began a day early, on Saturday morning, with a human chain and road blockade in Dhaka.