Covid stalls recruitment in 4,500 posts in govt banks

Bank job recruitment

• Over six lakh bank job aspirants are counting days
• Circular to hire 771 for five banks, two financial institutions issued on 20 Jan, 2020
• Vacancy notice to recruit 1,511 for state-owned banks published on 12 Mar, 2020
• Job notification to hire 2,046 for 7 banks and 2 financial institutions issued on 16 Feb, 2020
• Bankers' Selection Committee again floated a circular to hire more than 3,000 last month
• Bangladesh Bank to recruit 188 assistant directors

The recruitment of 4,500 first and second class officers in government banks and financial institutions has remained on hold for about a year because of the Covid-19 pandemic, creating frustrations among the job aspirants.

The job seekers are awaiting a series of assessment tests for public financial institutions after they have duly completed their applications in response to a wide range of recruitment circulars a year ago.

Sources said over six lakh job seekers are waiting for recruitment examinations.

At the beginning of 2020, separate job circulars were issued for the posts of senior officer, officer (General) and officer (Cash) in state-owned banks and financial institutions and the selection tests were due to be held in the middle of the year, but the pandemic came in the way. 

The recruitment aimed at filling the vacant posts in banks and financial institutions that put forward the demands in 2018.

Bankers' Selection Committee Secretariat received the demand letter against the vacant posts in 2019 and published several recruitment notifications accordingly. 

Now the committee has fallen into trouble since it has not been able to hold previous recruitment tests let alone the latest ones against the circular of 2020.

The Bankers' Selection Committee recommends manpower recruitment in government banks and financial institutions while the Bangladesh Bank does it alone.

On 1 December 2019, the Bangladesh Bank published the job advertisement for the post of assistant director. 

After the publication of the circular for 188 vacant posts, applications were duly received but the central bank is yet to hold the test.

On 20 January 2020, a job circular was issued against 771 posts in five banks and two financial institutions, but the Bankers' Selection Committee has so far failed to hold the recruitment test.

Sonali, Rupali, Janata, Agrani and Bangladesh Development Bank issued vacancy announcements for the post of 1,511 officers (cash) on 12 March 2020. That test has not been held yet.

Similarly, a job notification was made on 16 February 2020 to appoint 2,046 officers to seven banks and two financial institutions. Although all procedures have been completed, no recruitment examination has been held.

In addition, a vacancy announcement was made to appoint senior officers, officers, officers (cash) to Prabashi Kallyan Bank but nobody knows when the selection test will be held.

Although the Bankers' Selection Committee has not been able to hold its previously announced recruitment test, it had on the other hand floated a circular to hire more than 3,000 for different posts in banks last month.

According to the committee, it is ready to complete all recruitment process as soon as the pandemic is over.

Sources said the tender process has already been completed to arrange a test, which is likely in next April or after the Public Service Commission examination if the Covid situation turns normal. 

The 41st BCS preliminary examination is scheduled to be held on 19 March.

The Bangladesh Bank General Manager Arif Hossain Khan, also member secretary of the Bankers' Selection Committee Secretariat, told The Business Standard that thousands of applications have been received for the posts of officer, officer (Cash) and senior officer. 

"We have completed all preparations for holding the tests, but things have been thwarted by Covid," he added.

The Bankers' Selection Committee was formed on 30 September in 2015 to select eligible candidates for first and second class appointments in state-owned commercial and specialised banks and financial institutions.

The committee prepares a recruitment panel and the banks make appointments from there.

The banks that have vacant posts are Sonali, Janata, Agrani, Rupali, Bangladesh Development Bank, Basic Bank, Bangladesh Krishi Bank, Rajshahi Krishi Unnayan Bank, Karmasangsthan Bank, Ansar-VDV Unnayan Bank, Prabashi Kallyan Bank and Palli Sanchay Bank.

A lot of posts are lying vacant in financial institutions -- Bangladesh House Building Finance Corporation and Investment Corporation of Bangladesh.