Md. Jalal Uddin, Staff Correspondent:- A human chain and protest rally were held in Srimangal, Moulvibazar, demanding the cancellation of illegal recruitments and the introduction of merit-based appointments in Islami Bank and other banks across the country.

The event took place on Monday, October 6, 2025, at around 10:30 a.m. in front of the Islami Bank Srimangal branch. It was organized by the Islami Bank Customer Forum and the Discrimination-Free Job Seekers Council.

Speakers at the human chain included Md. Saiful Islam Bulbul, Md. Monir Mia, Md. Tarek Mahfuz, Md. Sirajul Islam, Khandaker Zakir Hossain, Md. Saleh Ahmed Suman, Kazi Mohsin Ahmed Rahi, Md. Ebadur Rahman, Samsuddoha Selim, Hussain Ahmed, and Tanvir Raihan Wasim, among others.

The speakers alleged that from 2017 to 2024, the so-called S. Alam Group, a syndicate of looters and influential elites, made numerous illegal and irregular recruitments in Islami Bank by appointing unqualified officials, which severely undermined the transparency and reputation of the banking sector. They demanded the immediate cancellation of such illegal appointments and the initiation of a new recruitment process based on merit and qualifications.

The speakers further stated that Islami Bank was originally established on the principles of justice, trust, and Islamic values. However, in recent years, a group of powerful individuals has violated the bank’s fundamental principles by promoting and appointing incompetent individuals to serve their vested interests, which has eroded public confidence in the banking system.

Key Demands Raised by the Protesters:

1. All illegal appointments made by the S. Alam Group between 2017 and 2024 must be immediately cancelled.
2. Skilled and qualified officers and employees must be recruited based on merit across all regions of the country.
3. Effective measures must be taken to recover the billions of taka allegedly laundered by the S. Alam Group, and government-seized assets should be used to offset the bank’s liabilities.
4. Legal action must be taken against those bank officials or individuals who spread false information or propaganda to tarnish the reputation of Islami Bank.

Participants in the human chain asserted that Islami Bank is a symbol of trust for millions of depositors in Bangladesh. They emphasized that the government and Bangladesh Bank must take swift and effective action to restore the bank’s integrity and public confidence.