NN Online:
Hundreds of employees who were recently dismissed from three banks owned by the S Alam Group blocked a road for one hour in the Moijjartek area near Shah Amanat Bridge on Sunday morning.
The protest caused heavy traffic congestion and disrupted the Chattogram-Cox’s Bazar highway. The protesters demanded immediate reinstatement, alleging they were unfairly terminated without notice.
The protest, which began at 10am, brought vehicular movement to a standstill, leaving commuters stranded. Office-goers were seen walking to their destinations as traffic remained backed up for kilometres, reports UNB.
The dismissed employees accused the banks of violating employment norms, alleging they were terminated without prior notice or any valid reason. “We are peacefully protesting against this injustice and appealing for a humane resolution. If our demands are ignored, we will escalate our movement,” said one protester.
A former employee of Social Islami Bank Limited (SIBL) said, “For three months during the crisis, we worked tirelessly to help the bank recover, sometimes from morning till 10pm. And now, with one notice, they have thrown us out. We have families to support. Does the government not feel any responsibility toward the people of Chattogram, who have always stood by the nation during crises?”
According to sources, 672 employees of SIBL were dismissed on October 30, 262 employees of Union Bank dismissed on November 21, and 250 employees of Islami Bank have been dismissed.
Protesters argued that they were recruited following due process and that their dismissals were unjustified. They submitted memorandums to the Deputy Commissioner (DC) and the Chief Adviser. They also issued a warning of larger-scale protests if their grievances are not addressed.
The blockade ended after an hour, following intervention by the police and army, which restored normal traffic flow.
