Revoke unlawful appointments to Islami Bank

Clients of Islami Bank Bangladesh PLC have demanded immediate cancellation of illegal appointments to the bank to end the influence of S Alam Group.

Under the banner of Islami Bank Client Forum, they made the demand at a human chain held in front of the bank's head office in the capital's Dilkusha area on Sunday.

They said that a significant number of individuals from Patiya upazila of Chattogram were appointed to the bank from 2017 to 2024 under the influence of S Alam Group. They also called for appointing new, honest and competent staff across the country through competitive examinations to ensure efficient management of the bank.

Businessmen Shahin Ahmed Khan, Md Motasim Billah, Md Delwar Hossain, Md Imam Hossain, advocate Waliullah, Hafizur Rahman and D M Sawkat Ali spoke at the event.

The speakers said that a total of 7,224 people from the Chattogram region were recruited in the bank under the influence of S Alam Group during the period. Of them, over 4,500 were appointed from Patia upazila of the district.

They alleged that the quality of services in the bank has declined while administrative discipline has collapsed following the appointment of many from a particular district, bypassing competent candidates from other districts.

They further alleged that the unlawfully appointed bank staff who are often become rude to clients are unable to provide proper services, as they are devoid of professionalism. Clients face trouble most of the time during services, as most of the staff members speak local dialect, they said.

Meanwhile on September 27, Islami Bank arranged exams under the supervision of IBA of Dhaka University to examine the merits of the bank's staff who were appointed unlawfully from 2017 to 2024.

A total of 5,385 staff members were asked to sit the exams, but only 414 took it. The bank authorities made 4,971 staff Officer on Special Duty (OSD) and 400 were dismissed. The sacked members were asked to refrain from all banking activities until further notice.

Somoy Socheton Peshajibi Group, Islami Bank CBA and Socheton Banker Somaj also formed human chains separately to press home the same demand.

talhabinhabib@yahoo.com