Bangladesh Bank makes exams mandatory for entry-level bank recruitment

Bangladesh Bank has made competitive examinations mandatory for entry-level recruitment at banks and ordered the industry to verify employees’ academic credentials, tightening hiring rules amid allegations of opaque recruitment and forged qualifications.

Under a circular issued by the central bank’s Banking Regulation and Policy Department (BRPD) on Monday, banks must hold an objective or written examination — either in person or online — followed by a mandatory viva for positions requiring no previous experience. 

The rules cover posts including management trainee officer, senior officer, probationary officer, trainee assistant officer, junior officer and cash officer.

Vacancies must be advertised on the bank’s website or a job portal as well as in at least two national newspapers, with appointments based on examination results, merit and qualifications. Higher-level positions requiring experience must also be filled through a competitive process that includes at least an oral examination. 

The directive comes amid allegations that some banks recruited employees without properly checking their qualifications and, in some cases, without publicly advertising vacancies or holding competitive examinations. 

Bangladesh Bank has also ordered banks to verify the highest educational certificate of every new recruit with the issuing education board, university or institution within one year of joining.

More significantly, banks must retrospectively verify the academic credentials of all existing employees by March 31, 2027. 

Any new academic or professional qualification submitted by an employee to secure a promotion or financial or non-financial benefit must also be authenticated and retained in the employee’s personnel file. The requirement extends to contractual employees, except consultants and advisers. 

Banks have been instructed to take immediate and strict administrative action if any certificate is found to be forged.

The central bank has also ordered each bank to formulate or update a board-approved comprehensive human resources policy by March 31 next year. The policy must address 18 areas, including recruitment and promotion, leave, codes of conduct, prevention of sexual harassment, whistleblower protection and management of conflicts of interest.

Bangladesh Bank said the measures are intended to make recruitment merit-based and transparent while strengthening discipline and corporate governance in the banking sector. 

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