Operations of 20 bank branches in Patiya halted as terminated officials stage protest

Banking operations at the branches of 20 public and private banks in Chattogram's Patiya came to a standstill today (10 August) as terminated bank officials and employees staged protests demanding reinstatement.

From the morning, protesters blocked the main entrances of all banks in the area, leaving customers facing severe difficulties. The protesters have vowed to continue the movement until their jobs are restored.

According to the demonstrators, in August last year, following the change of government, around 7,000 officials and employees were terminated without notice or due process from Islami Bank, Social Islami Bank, Al-Arafah Islami Bank, Global Islami Bank, Union Bank, and First Security Islami Bank. Most of those affected are residents of Patiya Upazila.

At 7am, the protesters gathered at Patiya Adarsha High School ground before marching and locking the entrances of the banks. From 9am, neither officials nor customers could enter any branch.

"We are protesting peacefully. All banking transactions in Patiya will remain suspended until the afternoon," said Mofizul Islam Chowdhury, one of the leaders of the protesters.

One of the demonstrators, Shiblu Alam, a former cash officer at Social Islami Bank Limited's Chuadanga branch, said, "I was suddenly terminated without any reason, leaving me in a desperate situation. I will continue the protest with my colleagues until we are reinstated."

Nazim Uddin, manager of Janata Bank's Patiya branch, said that due to the weekend bank closures on Friday and Saturday, customer turnout on Sunday was higher than usual. 

"However, transactions came to a halt because of the protest," he added.

Patiya Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Md Nuruzzaman said, "Police are trying to resolve the matter by talking to the protesters. They have been requested to reopen the banks to ease public suffering."