Sacked Social Islami Bank employees protest in Ctg for job reinstatement

More than 100 former employees of Social Islami Bank Ltd (SIBL) have joined a human-chain protest in Chattogram in a bid to get their jobs back.

The demonstration took place outside the Chattogram Press Club on Tuesday.

The protesters warned they would intensify their campaign if their demands were not met.

The dismissed employees argued that they had been hired through proper channels, but their terminations did not follow any established rules.

One of the protesters, Abdur Rahman Akash, said, “We were all hired through fair means. We applied online, took exams, and earned our positions. If we’re unqualified, let them prove it.”

He added that regulations require a three-month notice before termination, but they were dismissed without any notice or adherence to protocol.

Speakers at the protest described the termination of 672 employees without notice as ‘unfair’.

They explained that the employees were working as usual until around 2pm on Thursday, when they unexpectedly received termination letters.

Around 100 men and women joined the protest, holding various banners and placards.

After the fall of the Awami League administration on Aug 5, the shariah-based Social Islami Bank (SIBL) board was removed from the control of the controversial conglomerate S Alam Group.

On Oct 31, the bank issued termination letters to several employees. According to the current board, these individuals had been appointed between January and July this year without any exams, during the period when S Alam Group controlled the bank.