Employees of Union Bank have staged demonstrations and a work stoppage, protesting against what they claim to be arbitrary dismissals without due investigation.
They demanded the reinstatement of terminated staff, assurances of job security, and the continuation of all employment benefits.
On Tuesday (18 February), employees of all ranks gathered in front of Union Bank’s headquarters in Gulshan, Dhaka, observing a work stoppage from 11am to 12pm.
This followed a demonstration held the previous day.
During the protest, employees were seen holding placards with messages such as "Salaries must not be reduced," "We demand job security," and "We do not accept the current board."
They also called for the dissolution of the present board and the formation of a new one.
Addressing the gathering, protesters alleged that numerous employees had been dismissed without adherence to proper procedures, with no opportunity for self-defence or investigation.
“Many of our colleagues have been terminated unfairly, and this continues unabated. No one should be dismissed without due process. Instead of adopting a strategic business policy to revitalise the bank, the management is focusing on job cuts, transfers, and punitive measures, instilling a sense of fear among employees. Under such conditions, we are unable to perform effectively and help the bank recover,” one protester stated.
Some employees went as far as declaring that if they were dismissed, they would have no option but to take their own lives.
“We are ordinary employees, not involved in any financial misconduct. Why should we lose our jobs?” they questioned.
A bank official, speaking on condition of anonymity, revealed that “Initially, 262 junior employees, recruited in 2024, were dismissed. Subsequently, seven senior officials, including a Senior Vice President, were also terminated. We have heard that an additional list of nine employees has been prepared, with plans to dismiss up to 100 more in phases. This is why we are protesting.”
During Monday’s demonstration, operations at the bank’s headquarters were completely halted.
Following this, the chairman and managing director assured employees that no further terminations would take place and urged them to resume work.
However, despite these assurances, employees staged another one-hour work stoppage on Tuesday, resulting in a sluggish pace of operations, although the bank did not come to a complete standstill.
Efforts to obtain a statement from Managing Director Shafiuddin Ahmed were unsuccessful, as he remained unreachable via direct contact and phone calls.
When asked about further protest plans, an employee involved in the demonstrations stated, “Today (Wednesday), we will submit our demands in writing to the managing director. If our concerns are addressed, we will withdraw our protest. Otherwise, our movement will continue.”
The peaceful work stoppage was observed not only at the bank’s headquarters but also across all its branches and sub-branches in response to what employees claim are baseless punitive measures, terminations, and the deprivation of rightful employment benefits under the newly formed board of Union Bank PLC.
