8,542 Hired at Islami Bank Without Public Notice or Exams: Bangladesh Bank Report

Out of the 10,832 individuals recruited by Islami Bank while it was under the control of the S. Alam Group, 8,542 were hired without any public notice or competitive examination. This information, revealed in a special inspection report by Bangladesh Bank, has raised fresh questions regarding the bank's recruitment process.

According to the report, 8,099 of the total employees recruited between 2017 and August 2024 hailed from the Chattogram district. Among them, 5,148 were residents of Patiya Upazila. These figures represent the total number of recruits during that period, not just those hired without examinations.

Islami Bank's human resources policy mandates the publication of recruitment notices in national dailies and the administration of written and oral examinations for eligible candidates. However, the inspection report states that 8,542 individuals across 27 different job categories were hired solely based on their CVs. This group included 2,789 Trainee Assistant Officers (Cash) and 2,160 Trainee Assistant Officers.

The report also raised questions regarding appointments to several high-ranking positions. It noted that appointments to various roles—including Managing Director and Deputy Managing Director—were made without issuing any public notice.

Subsequently, the Islami Bank board decided to conduct an assessment test to evaluate the qualifications of those recruited during that period. Out of 5,373 individuals on the preliminary list, only 402 participated in the test, while 4,971 did not. The report mentions that, following the board's decision, the bank authorities resolved to terminate the employment of 4,685 individuals. The inspection report has been submitted to the Governor; it did not contain any specific recommendations.