If We Come to Power, We Will Rehire Dismissed Employees of Islami Bank: Jamaat Candidate

Maulana Zahirul Islam, a candidate for the Chattogram-16 (Banshkhali) constituency and Assistant Secretary of the Chattogram South District Jamaat-e-Islami, has stated that if Jamaat-e-Islami forms the government, they will reinstate all employees who were dismissed from Islami Bank in Banshkhali, along with clearing their pending salaries and dues.

He made this statement during a meeting with former employees of Islami Bank, who had been dismissed from the bank, on Friday afternoon in Shilkupp Union, Banshkhali. A video of the meeting, in which Maulana Zahirul Islam spoke for 2 minutes and 5 seconds, was later shared on social media, particularly Facebook, on Saturday.

In the video, Maulana Zahirul Islam criticised the senior officials of Islami Bank, alleging that some bankers were involved in a conspiracy to tarnish the bank’s reputation. He said, “Some bankers are plotting to disgrace Islami Bank. How would you feel if your son, nephew, or daughter were to be dismissed? You should understand that feeling. You are interfering with people’s livelihoods, and one day, Insha Allah, your own children may lose their jobs too.”

He assured the dismissed employees that Jamaat-e-Islami would stand by them and provide support. “Anyone who dismisses someone from their job, either secretly or publicly, with the intention of harming their livelihood, reputation, or property—Allah will hold them accountable for their actions,” he added.

The meeting was organised by GM Saiful Islam, the organisational secretary of the Banshkhali branch of Jamaat-e-Islami. Special guests at the event included Shahidul Mustafa, a member of the executive council of the Chattogram South District Jamaat, Muktar Hossain Sikdar, General Secretary of the Chattogram South District Workers’ Welfare Federation, and Maulana Arifullah, Secretary of the Banshkhali Jamaat.

When attempts were made to contact Maulana Zahirul Islam for further comment by phone on the matter, he did not respond to calls despite multiple attempts. Messages were also sent to his phone, but he did not reply.