Sonali Bank senior officers demand promotion, claiming deprivation

Over a hundred senior officers of the state-owned Sonali Bank, who joined the bank in 1994, 1995, 1998, and 2000, have demanded promotion, claiming that they have been "deprived."

Most of them currently hold the position of senior principal officer.

In a letter today (12 September), they have requested promotions from the interim government's chief adviser and finance adviser.

Additionally, the appeal also has been submitted to the bank's managing director.

According to the letter, the officers alleged that a discriminatory promotion policy has hindered their career advancement. The officers pointed out that the emphasis on diploma and oral examination scores in the promotion policy enables the bank's management to favor certain individuals.

This has led to the violation of seniority in promotions and allegations of favouritism and corruption in the selection process.

The officers also demanded the cancellation of the existing promotion policy and requested the government's advisers to implement a promotion system similar to that of the Bangladesh Bank.

In August, following the fall of the Hasina-led government, Sonali Bank employees confined the bank's former chairman, Ziaul Hasan Siddiqui, to his office, demanding promotions.

Siddiqui was later rescued by the army and subsequently resigned from his position.