Dismissed officials and employees of Islami Bank Bangladesh PLC staged a demonstration outside the foundation stone-laying ceremony of the Chinese Economic and Industrial Zone (CEIZ) in Chattogram's Anwara, today (27 July), demanding reinstatement and government intervention.

The protest took place around 10:30am on China Economic Zone Road in Bairag Union, where Finance Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury and Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed attended the ceremony.

Police deployed additional personnel around the venue and tightened security during the event. The protesters dispersed around 2:30pm after the guests left the programme.

The demonstrators alleged that around 5,500 officials and employees of Islami Bank were dismissed following the 2024 mass uprising without due process or proper notice.

They further alleged that a group took control of the bank and later appointed and promoted individuals of its choice. The Business Standard could not immediately reach Islami Bank authorities for comments on the allegations.

The protesters demanded the reconstitution of the bank's board of directors and the reinstatement of the dismissed employees with full dignity.

They said many former employees have been facing financial hardship since losing their jobs and organised the demonstration to draw the attention of senior government officials attending the investment event.

Anwara Police Station Officer-in-Charge Junayet Chowdhury told The Business Standard that the dismissed employees gathered to present their demands to the ministers.

"As the ministers were attending an important state event, there was no opportunity for them to meet the protesters. No untoward incident occurred, and adequate security arrangements were in place throughout the programme," he said.

The foundation stone-laying ceremony was also attended by State Minister for Land and Chattogram Hill Tracts Affairs Mir Mohammad Helal Uddin, members of parliament from Chattogram, Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen, local and foreign investors, and senior civil and police officials.