The approximate monthly salary for the posts will be Tk 6 lakh.

The appointment of managing directors in two nationalised commercial banks on a competitive basis is part of the government's reform plans prescribed by the donors, sources said.

The list was drawn up from a total of 34 applications for the posts, an official of the finance ministry said.

"A committee headed by Finance Adviser Mirza Azizul Islam will choose two from the list as the managing directors of the banks," the official said.

The shortlisted candidates are incumbent managing directors of Sonali Bank SM Aminur Rahman, Mokhter Hossain of Janata Bank, M Amanullah of Shilpa Bank, Dewan Mujibur Rahman of Karmasangsthan Bank, Abdul Hamid Mia of Rupali Bank, Yaseen Ali of Dutch Bangla Bank, Shah Mohammad Nurul Alam of Mercantile Bank, Nurul Amin of National Credit and Commerce Bank and SA Chowdhury and Rabiul Hossain, former managing directors of Sonali Bank.

"The list has been prepared on the basis of work experiences in banking sector and education of the applicants," a finance ministry source said adding that the applicants with work experiences as general managers and deputy managing directors were not included in the list.

Recently, the chief executive officer of another nationalised commercial bank, Agrani Bank, has been appointed on competitive basis from the private sector.