Sonali Bank chairman Ziaul Hasan resigns amid employee protests

Staff Reporter :

Ziaul Hasan Siddiqui has resigned from his position as chairman of Sonali Bank, following intense protests by employees who demanded promotions for overlooked staff and revisions to the promotion policy.

Ziaul submitted his resignation to the Financial Institutions Department of the Ministry of Finance on August 19. The resignation was accepted on Tuesday, as confirmed by a letter signed by Deputy Secretary Afsana Bilkis.
On August 19, employees of Sonali Bank surrounded Ziaul Hasan Siddiqui, demanding changes to the promotion policies. The protesters accused the management of creating inequality by promoting junior staff over senior employees through corrupt practices.

Ziaul Hasan had requested the employees to wait until Tuesday, stating that a meeting of the board of directors was scheduled for that day and that a decision would be made during the meeting. However, officials were skeptical of his verbal assurances and insisted on an immediate resolution. As a result, Ziaul Hasan was escorted out of Sonali Bank by the army later on Monday evening.

Regarding the ongoing protest at Sonali Bank, an anonymous employee shared, “It’s disheartening to see our hard work and dedication not being recognized.” He added that employees have been deprived of promotions and benefits over the years and are now calling for several key reforms, including the elimination of extensive backlogs in promotions, the introduction of supernumerary promotions, the elimination of discrimination, and the restoration of good governance.

Despite efforts to help the bank excel, the employee claimed that corruption among higher-ups means that they are always left at the bottom. The protesters are demanding fair treatment and transparency in the promotion process.