The Nagorik Coalition has strongly criticized a recent job advertisement by Ibn Sina Pharmaceutical Industry PLC for the position of Executive/Sr Executive, Legal Affairs. The job circular specified that only male and practicing Muslim candidates were eligible to apply, a requirement deemed discriminatory and irrelevant to the necessary professional skills for legal and compliance roles.
According to the civil society group, the job circular not only lacks ethical justification but also contradicts the foundational legal principles of the country. The statement highlighted that the Constitution of Bangladesh guarantees equal rights and protection to all citizens, explicitly prohibiting discrimination based on gender and religion (Articles 27 and 28).
The Coalition emphasized that the exclusion of women and non-Muslims from a significant legal role is not a matter of personal preference or cultural alignment but a concerning belief that individual rights and qualifications can be overshadowed by narrow identity factors. Additionally, the Coalition raised concerns about other non-performance-related criteria in the circular, asserting that hiring practices should be relevant to the job, reasonable, and in line with fundamental rights and fair employment standards.
In response to these issues, the Nagorik Coalition has called on Ibn Sina Pharmaceutical Industry PLC to retract the discriminatory job circular, issue a public apology and clarification, and publish a revised announcement based solely on skills, qualifications, and experience. The coalition also urged the Ministry of Labour and Employment and relevant regulatory bodies to address and prevent discriminatory hiring practices from becoming commonplace in the corporate sector of Bangladesh.
