Sacked Islami Bank officers stage human chain demanding reinstatement, halt to new recruitment

Hundreds of dismissed officials of Islami Bank Bangladesh staged a human chain in Chattogram today (31 October), demanding that their termination be declared illegal and that the bank's ongoing recruitment process be suspended.

The protest took place around 11am in front of the Chattogram Press Club, where participants carried banners and placards calling for reinstatement.

Yesterday, the dismissed officials filed a case with the Dhaka Fifth Joint District Judge's Court seeking a declaration that their termination was unlawful and requesting an injunction to halt the new recruitment. The court issued summons against Islami Bank and directed the respondents to appear on 14 January.

Islami Bank recently announced recruitment for new positions, including trainee assistant officer and trainee assistant officer (cash), with exams scheduled for 1 November. The terminated employees denounced the initiative as "unjust" and "a conspiracy" to replace experienced staff with new recruits.

Addressing the human chain, dismissed officer SM Emdad Hossain said, "We joined the bank through proper procedures and earned every promotion based on merit. Yet we were terminated without any reason. Now the board is illegally trying to fill our positions. We only want to return to the institution we built."

He also urged job seekers to boycott the upcoming recruitment test. "Those sitting for the exam are our brothers and sisters. You've seen what happened to us — don't fall into the same trap," he said.

Other speakers, including Moktar Hossain Rashid and Mohammad Humayun, appealed for intervention from Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus. "You are a son of Chattogram," one speaker said. "Over 5,000 families here are in distress after losing their jobs. We urge you to take steps to restore our employment."

The protesters said their movement remains peaceful but warned that tougher programmes may follow if their demands are ignored.