Uncertainty over jobs is deepening among nearly 18,000 employees of Sammilito Islami Bank, formed through the merger of five troubled Islamic banks, as their formal transfer to the new entity and a unified pay and human resources structure remain unresolved.
Employees submitted a memorandum to the bank’s managing director on Monday, seeking clarity over job security, salaries, seniority and their future positions in the merged bank.
They alleged that while the new bank is recruiting senior officials on high salaries, the formal integration of employees from the five banks has effectively stalled. A unified human resources management system, common identity cards and an integrated salary structure have yet to be introduced, according to the memorandum.
Bangladesh Bank (BB) approved the merger of the five Shariah-based banks into Sammilito Islami Bank on 17 September 2025.
On November 4 that year, the central bank appointed an administrator and five assistant administrators to each of the five banks. Under the resolution scheme prepared by Bangladesh Bank’s Bank Resolution Department, repayment to depositors began on January 1, 2026. Forensic audits were also launched to examine irregularities and financial transactions involving officials and employees of the banks.
Employees, however, say their integration has not progressed at the same pace.
According to them, Instruction 17 of the resolution scheme required employees of the five banks to be transferred to Sammilito Islami Bank from December 29, 2025. They allege the process was subsequently delayed, with the appointment of the board and managing director and other administrative issues cited as reasons.
The delay has fuelled fears of job losses and uncertainty over pay, benefits, ranks and designations among the nearly 18,000 employees. Administrative complications also remain because employees working under the same institution are still not covered by a single HR system.
In their memorandum, the employees demanded immediate clarification on how their previous service, seniority, salaries, benefits and outstanding entitlements would be treated after the merger.
They also sought a clear decision on their formal appointment or transfer to Sammilito Islami Bank and on the bank’s future staffing structure.
The merger involves around 75 lakh depositors, deposits of about Tk 1.35 lakh crore and thousands of employees. Prolonged uncertainty over staffing could affect the bank’s operations and depositor confidence, according to people familiar with the process.
Sammilito Islami Bank Managing Director Abedur Rahman Sikder could not be reached for comment.
BB Executive Director and spokesperson Arief Hossain Khan said the bank’s board would independently decide on its internal affairs.
However, he said maintaining different pay structures within the same bank could create frustration among employees. “Bangladesh Bank does not want to see any discrimination,” Khan said.
Employees also alleged that, at a meeting with staff of the five banks in August, had assured them that identity cards would be issued in the first week of September and a unified salary structure introduced by the end of the month.
Neither had been implemented by late September, employees said.
