The High Court (HC) has questioned the legality of a Bangladesh Bank (BB) circular that fixed the minimum salary of entry-level officials and staffs of private- sector banks.
The court on Monday issued a rule upon the government bodies concerned to explain in one week as to why the BB circular should not be declared without (having any) lawful authority.
The BB, on January 20, fixed the minimum salary with allowance of assistant officers, trainee assistant officers, trainee assistant cash officers and other equivalent officers at Tk 28,000, and the minimum total salary of those officers upon completion of their probation period at Tk 39,000.
In the rule, the court also wanted to know as to why the term of the same circular that fixed the minimum starting salary of messengers, cleaners, security guards, and support staff or equivalent other posts at Tk 24,000 should not be declared without lawful authority.
The finance secretary and the BB governor have been asked to comply with the rule within one week.
The HC bench of Justice Mamnoon Rahman and Justice Khandaker Diliruzzaman passed the order after hearing a writ petition, filed by Md Farhad Bin Hossain - a shareholder of One Bank Ltd, challenging the BB circular on fixing the minimum salary.
The court also appointed four renowned lawyers as 'amici curiae' (friends of the court) to hear if the central bank has any authority to issue such circular. They are - Attorney General A M Amin Uddin, and lawyers Ajmalul Hossain, Rokanuddin Mahmud, and Probir Neogi.
Barrister Syed Mahsib Hossain appeared in the court on behalf of the writ petitioner, while Deputy Attorney General Bepul Bagmar represented the state.
For the first time, the BB fixed minimum salary of entry-level officials of private sector banks - to encourage talented young people to take banking as career as well as play role for economic advancement of the nation.
Mr Mahsib said the circular is totally arbitrary and absurd in the present scenario of the country's financial sector, especially during the pandemic situation.
"Financial situation of most of the banks is very critical now. If the central bank fixes the minimum salary, the banks will face severe crisis," added the lawyer.
