Following recent political upheavals, instability has surfaced within Islami Bank Bangladesh Ltd. Today, Tuesday, a group of discontented employees vandalized the Bangabandhu Corner at the bank’s head office in Dilkusha, Dhaka. Reports indicate that several Human Resources department officials were also assaulted during the incident.
In response, Anisur Rahman, a leader of the Collective Bargaining Agent (CBA) at Islami Bank, announced that all executives hired after 2017 would no longer be permitted to remain with the bank. Addressing the protesting employees, he called for calm and assured them that the bank would be restored to its former state. “The Managing Director (MD) has sent me as his representative,” he stated.
Anisur Rahman emphasized that any appointments made irregularly without proper examinations since 2017 would be annulled. Additionally, he assured that those who were unlawfully terminated during this period would be reinstated. He also pledged that employees who were denied promotions over the past seven years would receive their due advancements.
Sources within Islami Bank revealed that following a change in ownership in 2017, numerous officials were allegedly forced to resign, while several junior officials were promoted to senior positions. There are also allegations that significant sums of money were withdrawn from the bank by certain factions of the owners.
Eyewitnesses reported that after Sheikh Hasina’s resignation, some officials vandalized the Bangabandhu Corner upon arriving at the bank this morning. Subsequently, these officials began searching for others who had reportedly forced former employees to resign under illegal directives from the owners. They also sought out those accused of illicitly withdrawing money from the bank. During this turmoil, several HR department officials were assaulted, and various slogans were chanted within the bank premises.
Kamaluuddin Jasim, Head of the Operations Department and Senior Executive Vice President of Islami Bank, addressed the protesting employees. He assured them that he had discussed the matter with the bank’s MD and that necessary reforms would be implemented to rectify the irregular appointments.
Eyewitnesses have confirmed that the situation at the bank’s headquarters remains volatile.
Attempts by Prothom Alo to contact senior officials of Islami Bank for comments were unsuccessful as no statements were provided.
