A writ petition has been filed in the High Court challenging the legality of the government-approved merger plan involving five Shariah-based private banks in Bangladesh—First Security Islami Bank, Global Islami Bank, Union Bank, EXIM Bank, and Social Islami Bank. The petition, submitted on behalf of investor Shahidul Islam by Barrister Mahsib Hossain, names the Bangladesh Bank governor and the finance secretary among the respondents. The merger proposal, approved on October 9 by an advisory council, aims to form a new Shariah-compliant entity tentatively named either United Islamic Bank or Sammilito Islamic Bank. The new bank would assume all assets and liabilities of the merged institutions, with an authorized capital of Tk 40,000 crore, including Tk 20,000 crore from the government. Bangladesh Bank recently appointed administrators to manage the financially weak banks, assuring depositors that their funds remain secure and that no employees will be dismissed during the restructuring process.