Employees dismissed from six Shariah-based commercial banks held a human chain in Dhaka’s Motijheel area on Sunday, demanding reinstatement, payment of outstanding dues, and what they described as protection against arbitrary dismissal.
The programme began at around 9:00 am in front of the head office of Islami Bank Bangladesh PLC in the Dilkusha commercial area. Law enforcement personnel were deployed in the surrounding Motijheel district to maintain order during the demonstration.
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Claims of the dismissed employees
The former employees alleged that they were removed from service without specific charges following 5 August 2024. According to their statement, approximately 10,000 officers and staff across six Islamic banking institutions have been affected by the dismissals. They further claimed that a large portion of those impacted are from the Chattogram region.
The protesting employees said many of them travelled overnight from Chattogram to Dhaka to participate in the programme. They demanded reinstatement to their previous positions along with payment of salaries and other service benefits allegedly withheld after termination.
They also called for the resignation of the board and senior management of Islami Bank Bangladesh PLC. In addition, they demanded the removal of the current chairman and managing director of the bank, as well as legal action against former Bangladesh Bank governor Ahsan H. Mansur.
The protesters stated that they were dismissed without being given an opportunity to present explanations or defend themselves, and that they were seeking restoration of their employment rights.
Involved financial institutions
The protest involved dismissed personnel from six Shariah-based banks:
- Islami Bank Bangladesh PLC
- First Security Islami Bank PLC
- Union Bank PLC
- Al-Arafah Islami Bank PLC
- Global Islami Bank PLC
- Social Islami Bank PLC
Position of bank authorities
Officials from several of the banks stated that dismissals were carried out only after identifying irregularities. They cited cases involving allegedly forged certificates and recruitment without formal examination procedures. According to them, reinstatement of such employees would not be possible under current regulatory and administrative frameworks.
Institutional and regulatory context
The six banks were previously reported to have been under the influence of the S Alam Group. Following the political change in August 2024, the group reportedly lost control over these financial institutions.
Subsequently, the Bangladesh Bank identified evidence of large-scale financial irregularities, including the alleged diversion of approximately 200,000 crore taka through various channels.
In response to governance concerns, four banks—First Security Islami Bank PLC, Union Bank PLC, Global Islami Bank PLC, and Social Islami Bank PLC—are undergoing a merger process. Meanwhile, Islami Bank Bangladesh PLC and Al-Arafah Islami Bank PLC are currently being administered by independent directors appointed by Bangladesh Bank.
Summary of banks and status
| Bank | Reported regulatory status | Current management arrangement |
|---|---|---|
| Islami Bank Bangladesh PLC | Under oversight | Managed by Bangladesh Bank-appointed independent directors |
| First Security Islami Bank PLC | Under restructuring | Subject to merger process |
| Union Bank PLC | Under restructuring | Subject to merger process |
| Al-Arafah Islami Bank PLC | Under oversight | Managed by independent directors |
| Global Islami Bank PLC | Under restructuring | Subject to merger process |
| Social Islami Bank PLC | Under restructuring | Subject to merger process |
Protest demands
The demonstrators concluded the programme by reiterating three core demands: immediate reinstatement of dismissed employees, payment of all pending wages and benefits, and legal safeguards to prevent what they described as discriminatory termination practices in the future.