Morshedul Alam (Chittagong) Correspondent:
About 300 sacked bank officials from Satkania-Lohagra area of Chittagong have formed a human chain demanding their jobs back. The officials who were sacked from Islami Bank Bangladesh PLC participated in the program organized at 10 am on Thursday on Keranihat Chittagong-Cox’s Bazar highway. They alleged that they were suddenly sacked without any preconditions, notice or hearing.
The human chain members said, “After the July coup, our jobs were cancelled without any notice. The incident was like a thunderbolt. Many in the family have been mentally broken, we are being humiliated socially. Even though we got jobs through the legal recruitment process, we have been unfairly removed from our jobs with the ‘S Alam’ and ‘Chittagong tag’.”
Their complaint is that due to the sudden loss of jobs, many have also passed the age to apply for government jobs. As a result, they have lost important time in their lives and are in extreme uncertainty. The officials participating in the human chain demanded the reinstatement of a total of 5,500 bank officials who were dismissed from their jobs across the country in October. They sought urgent intervention from the government, the Bangladesh Bank Governor, and the Islamic Bank authorities in this regard.
Many of the human chain participants said that the economic crisis in their families has become severe as a result of losing their jobs. Another dismissed official said, “I have worked hard for years to build my identity. Now, suddenly, I don’t have a job—it has become difficult to show my face in society in this situation.”
Another said, “My parents have become ill after losing their jobs. We only want justice, nothing else.”
The dismissed officials have only one demand—a transparent investigation and prompt reinstatement based on humane considerations. In their words, “We are not criminals, legally appointed government-recognized bank officials. The state and the employer institution must take responsibility for restoring our livelihood.” The Islamic Bank authorities did not comment on the matter.