Former employees of Islami Bank staged a blockade on the Dhaka–Chattogram highway in Faujdarhat on Saturday (October 4), disrupting traffic for nearly three hours in protest against mass dismissals.

The demonstration began around 11 am with a human chain along the roadside before hundreds of dismissed staff moved onto the highway shortly before noon, effectively halting traffic. Police were deployed to the scene to restore order.

Protesters alleged that nearly 400 officers had been terminated from Islami Bank’s Chattogram region, while another 4,000 to 5,000 had been sidelined as officers on special duty (OSD), leaving them inactive in their roles.

On Friday, the dismissed employees announced at a press conference that they would begin an indefinite work stoppage from Sunday. However, the agitation started earlier with Saturday’s human chain and blockade.

“We have been raising our six-point demand, including reinstatement of dismissed staff and withdrawal of OSD orders, for a long time, but they have not been accepted. Around 5,500 officers in Chattogram are now in crisis, and patience has run out,” said dismissed officer Saeedul Islam.

Chattogram district police confirmed the blockade occurred in front of Faujdarhat Cadet College under Sitakunda police station. Senior police officials, including the additional superintendent of police for Sitakunda Circle and the officer-in-charge of Sitakunda Model Police Station, negotiated with the protesters, who eventually lifted the blockade.

Traffic has since returned to normal. Police have urged all parties to cooperate in the interest of public safety and order.

SMS/