Hundreds of employees recently dismissed from three banks owned by the S Alam Group staged a one-hour road blockade in the Moijjartek area, near Shah Amanat Bridge, on Sunday morning. The protest caused severe traffic jams and disrupted the Chattogram-Cox’s Bazar highway. The protestors demanded their immediate reinstatement, alleging they were unfairly terminated without prior notice.
The protest, which started at 10 am, halted vehicular movement, leaving commuters stranded. Office-goers were seen walking to their destinations as traffic remained gridlocked for kilometers.
The dismissed employees accused the banks of breaching employment regulations, claiming they were terminated without prior notice or valid justification. "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 of the protesters.
A former employee of Social Islami Bank Limited (SIBL) expressed frustration, saying, “For three months during the crisis, we worked tirelessly to help the bank recover, sometimes from morning till 10 pm. 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, a total of 672 employees from Social Islami Bank Limited (SIBL) were dismissed on October 30, followed by the dismissal of 262 employees from Union Bank on November 21, and 250 employees from Islami Bank.
Protesters claimed they were hired through proper procedures and argued that their dismissals were unjustified. They submitted memorandums to the Deputy Commissioner (DC) and the Chief Adviser, warning of larger-scale protests if their concerns were not addressed.
The blockade was lifted after an hour following intervention by the police and army, which helped restore normal traffic flow.
(Source: UNB)
BD-Pratidin English/Mazdud
