desk report : Bangladesh Bank has launched an investigation into the recruitment and dismissal of officials hired during the period of S Alam Group’s groups control at shariah-based banks.

There are allegations of a large-scale irregularities, influence and use of forged credentials during the hiring process.

The central bank made the decision amid escalating tensions between two opposing groups over recent mass layoffs.

B officials said that an inspection team has already collected information on how the banks conducted the dismissals and whether proper procedures were followed in recruitment, including publication of job circulars, holding of competitive examinations and verification of academic credentials.

Following the political transition, a large number of employees were dismissed from six banks — Islami Bank Bangladesh, First Security Islami Bank, Union Bank, Al-Arafah Islami Bank, Global Islami Bank and Social Islami Bank.

On April 19, dismissed employees gathered in Dhaka demanding reinstatement, claiming that nearly 10,000 staff, mostly from the Chattogram region, had been laid off.

On the same day, another group under the banner of Islami Bank Customer Forum staged a counter-programme.

In this context, the governor of Bangladesh Bank formed a seven-member committee to review the entire matter. A central bank official said the committee would document whether recruitment and dismissals complied with banking rules but would not make recommendations.

Bangladesh Bank spokesperson and executive director Areif Hossain Khan told New Age that a team has already begun working and will submit its findings to the governor for further action.

In October 2025, Islami Bank alone dismissed about 5,000 employees on various allegations, including lack of qualifications and irregular recruitment practices.

Bank officials claimed that many of those hired did not go through standard procedures and were recruited under the influence of S Alam Group, which took control of the bank in 2017.

They said that the recruitment process bypassed competitive examinations and public advertisements.

Instead, applications were reportedly collected through drop boxes placed at the residence and office of S Alam Group chairman Saiful Alam.

A significant number of recruits were said to be from Chattogram, particularly from Potiya, the chairman’s hometown.

Officials said that more than 7,200 employees were hired after the takeover, with over 4,500 from that area alone.

Bank officials alleged that nearly 2,500 officers submitted certificates from private universities that could not be verified.

Investigations have already identified forged documents in several cases, leading to disciplinary actions.

They also alleged that some of the recruited officers were involved in facilitating large-scale financial irregularities.