Nagorik Coalition condemns Ibn Sina Pharma for ‘discriminatory’ male-only, Muslim-only job criteria

Nagorik Coalition, a civil society platform, has strongly condemned a job circular issued by The Ibn Sina Pharmaceutical Industry PLC that restricts applications to male, practicing Muslim candidates, calling the requirement discriminatory and a violation of Bangladesh's Constitution and labour laws.

In a press statement today (5 February), the coalition criticised the criteria, saying they "have no credible connection to the professional competencies required for legal and compliance work in a modern corporate environment." 

It emphasised that the conditions are ethically indefensible and conflict with Articles 27 and 28 of the Constitution, which guarantee equality before the law, prohibit discrimination on the grounds of sex and religion, and ensure women equal rights in all spheres of state and public life.

The statement also noted that the circular undermines the Bangladesh Labour Act 2006, which ensures equal protection for workers regardless of sex or religion and promotes equality in employment and wages for work of equal value. "When a leading company normalises exclusion based on identity, it weakens these protections and sends a signal that constitutional and labour-law norms are optional," the statement added. 

Excluding women and non-Muslims from a senior legal position, it said, is not a matter of "preference" or "cultural fit" but a direct assertion that citizenship and merit are subordinated to narrow identity markers. 

Other screening conditions in the circular were criticised as unrelated to job performance, with a call for corporate hiring standards to be job-relevant, proportionate, and consistent with fundamental rights.

The coalition has called for immediately withdraw the circular and issue a public clarification and apology.

It also demanded republication of the job announcement with eligibility criteria based strictly on skills, qualifications, and experience.

The platform also called on the Ministry of Labour and Employment and regulatory authorities to take notice and prevent the normalisation of discriminatory hiring practices in Bangladesh's corporate sector.