High Court Orders Probe into Ibn Sina Job Circular, Bans Religion and Gender Bias

The High Court on Monday directed the government to investigate a “discriminatory” job circular issued by Ibn Sina Pharmaceutical Industry PLC and ensure removal of biased conditions.

A bench comprising Justice Ahmed Sohel and Justice Fatema Anwar issued the order after hearing a writ petition filed by lawyer Anamika Nahrin. The circular, published on January 26, 2026, restricted applicants for a legal affairs position to “male” and “practicing Muslim” candidates only.

Anamika, who aspired to apply for the post, was disqualified based on these conditions.

The court also ordered the government to formulate and enforce guidelines preventing discrimination in recruitment across sectors and to submit a compliance report within three months.

The respondents — including secretaries of several ministries, the Directorate General of Drug Administration, Bangladesh Investment Development Authority, and National Human Rights Commission — were directed to comply.

The court issued a rule asking the authorities to explain within four weeks why their failure to regulate discriminatory recruitment practices should not be declared illegal and unconstitutional. It further asked why the government should not be directed to ensure all public and private workplaces adopt non-discriminatory recruitment guidelines.

Petitioner’s lawyer Sara Hossain argued that excluding candidates on grounds of gender and religion was arbitrary and unrelated to the job’s requirements. She said the practice violated constitutional guarantees of equality and fundamental rights, as well as provisions of the Bangladesh Labour Act, 2006, and Bangladesh’s international obligations under ICCPR, ICESCR, and CEDAW.

Sara Hossain was assisted by senior advocate Sharif Bhuiyan, along with advocates Karishma Jahan and Priya Ahsan Chowdhury.