Dismissed Islamic Bank Employees Protest in Chittagong

On Monday morning, dismissed employees from five Islamic banks staged a human chain and sit-in outside the Bangladesh Bank regional office in Chittagong. Following the demonstration, a delegation submitted a 10-point memorandum to the regional director, primarily demanding the immediate reinstatement of approximately 10,000 workers with full prior benefits.

The protesters allege that following the political shifts of August 5, 2024, an influential syndicate orchestrated mass layoffs and administrative harassment across Islami Bank Bangladesh, First Security Islami Bank, Union Bank, Al-Arafah Islami Bank, and Social Islami Bank.

"After August 5, we faced punitive transfers, deactivated IDs, and sudden dismissals without any adherence to standard HR policies," said one aggrieved official at the protest, vowing to continue the movement until their rights are restored.

Beyond job restoration, the memorandum outlines systemic reform demands for the banking sector. The protesters called for restructuring bank boards with skilled professionals, ensuring strict corporate governance, and eliminating political interference.

Furthermore, they demanded legal action under the Bank Companies Act against officials engaging in direct politics, as well as those artificially creating cash crises by refusing payouts to customers despite having sufficient funds. The group also urged an impartial investigation into all irregularities, corruption, and abuses of power committed in the banking sector since August 2024.