The central bank of Bangladesh. Photo: BBN

Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN) – The Bankers’ Selection Committee on Tuesday cancelled the recruitment test of the eight state-run banks that was held on Friday last.

The postponement came in the backdrop of the demonstration by the candidates of eight government banks and financial institutions.

The candidates of eight government banks and financial institutions on Monday demonstrated across the country demanding cancellation of Friday’s “controversial” recruitment tests and holding the exams afresh for all the candidates instead of just some.

Bangladesh Bank (BB) GM Abul Kalam Azad informed reporters about the decision of the Bankers’ Selection Committee after an emergency meeting held at BB headquarters in Motijheel of Dhaka.

Earlier, the chief executives of 14 state-run banks and financial institutions, including Sonali, Rupali and Janata, had decided to hold an emergency meeting with BB Governor Fazle Kabir on Tuesday.

During the meeting, the Bankers’ Selection Committee also formed a probe committee headed by Ahmed Jamal, the executive director of the Bangladesh Bank.

The committed is asked to submit its report within two weeks, Abul Kalam Azad informed reporters.

The schedule of the cancelled recruitment test will be announced once the report is obtained, Azad added.

Earlier, the Bankers’ Selection Committee, following another demonstration, had declared that the recruitment tests would be held on January 20 but only for the 5,600 candidates who could not take the exams at Government Bangla College and Hazrat Shah Ali Mohila College in Mirpur due to seat shortage and mismanagement.

However, more than 2,13,000 candidates who sat for the exams would not have to take part in the exam.

The 100-mark MCQ test, held at 61 examination centres in Dhaka to fill up 1,663 posts, was marred in mismanagement, including no seat plans, shortage of seats, use of mobile phones by examinees and question paper leaks.

The demonstrators also demanded reform in the Bankers’ Selection Committee as such incidents of mismanagement and irregularities had occurred before during previous recruitment tests.

BBN/SS/ANS