Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN) - Islami Bank Bangladesh PLC has sidelined 4,771 officials as officers on special duty (OSD) and terminated 200 others for skipping a special competency test ordered on September 22.
The test targeted 5,385 officials whose recruitment under S Alam Group’s control (2017–2024) was deemed questionable.
Only 414 sat for the September 27 exam, conducted by Dhaka University’s IBA.
Those absent were made OSD, while 200 were dismissed for disciplinary breaches, according to a spokesperson of the Shariah-based bank said.
More than 11,000 appointments were made during S Alam’s tenure—many without exams or with fake certificates—according to Islami Bank records. Of them, over 7,200 were from Chattogram, including 4,500 from Patiya, hometown of S Alam Chairman Mohammed Saiful Alam.
After the Awami League’s fall in 2024, Bangladesh Bank dissolved the S Alam-linked board and ordered an HR audit, which found nearly half of Islami Bank’s 21,000 staff were recruited post-takeover.
While Bangladesh Bank (BB), the country’s central bank, said the bank has the right to evaluate staff, a section of officials boycotted the test, holding protests and filing a writ petition in the High Court.
The final fate of those made OSD will be decided soon, the spokesperson added.
BBN/SSR/AD