State-owned bank officers 'deprived of promotion' stage human chain

Officers 'deprived of promotion' at state-owned Sonali, Agrani, Janata and Rupali banks formed a human chain in front of the Bangladesh Bank on Sunday, demanding an end to what they described as longstanding discrimination in career advancement.

The aggrieved officials alleged that widespread supernumerary promotions were granted after the recent political changeover without adherence to rules, leaving many qualified officers sidelined.

Speakers at the demonstration accused the Financial Institutions Division (FID) of unwarranted interference in the promotion process.

They called for merit-based promotions under regular vacancies and updated organograms, alongside proper evaluation of those who were denied advancement during the previous Awami League government for political reasons.

According to the protesters, the current interim government has already addressed discrimination in the civil service by granting officials – both active and retired – promotions of one to three steps since 2024.

The officials alleged that despite thousands of supernumerary promotions in state-owned banks last year, the longstanding grievances of genuinely deprived staff have yet to be addressed.

They further claimed that instead of addressing the issue in 2025, the FID introduced a new 'post assimilation' directive that has deprived many officers once again, resulting in no progress in the promotion process this year.

The officials claimed a vested group within the ministry was pushing discriminatory policies to create instability in the banking sector and portray the previous government as the better alternative.

To restore discipline in the sector, the protesters placed a three-point demand, including an end to what they termed illegal interference by the FID in areas such as promotions, incentives, loan approval, organogram updates and post assimilation – matters they said legally fall under the authority of bank boards as per the Vendor's Agreement and relevant Articles of Association.

They also sought cancellation of all related directives issued by the ministry.

They urged the authorities to issue circulars inviting applications from officers who faced discrimination between 2009 and 4 August 2024, and to ensure at least one promotion for them by December this year.

The protesters also called for a transparent and modern promotion policy modelled on the Bangladesh Bank system.