A sweeping crackdown is underway at Islami Bank, resulting in the dismissal of 200 employees and the demotion of 4,971 staff to special duty (OSD) status over alleged misconduct and rule violations. The shake-up follows a controversial hiring spree after S. Alam Group assumed control of the bank in 2017, when thousands were recruited without exams—many from Patiya, leading to nearly half of today’s workforce hailing from the same area. A senior bank official admitted: “Unqualified appointments under S. Alam’s management ruined the bank. We are now verifying merit for the institution’s survival.” Bangladesh Bank and court directives led to a mass competency test last Saturday, but of 5,385 summoned, only 414 appeared and continue regular duties. The 4,971 absentees were made OSD the next day, while 200 employees accused of spreading misinformation or opposing the test were terminated. Bangladesh Bank Executive Director Arif Hossain Khan noted this was the first time in the country’s history an exam was used to justify layoffs: “Recruitment and evaluation are under a bank’s jurisdiction, but must comply with law and policy.”