Dismissed officials and employees from a range of state-owned and private banks staged a peaceful sit-in programme in Chattogram on Sunday, demanding justice, reinstatement, and systemic reforms within the banking sector. The demonstration was held in the morning outside a prominent hotel in the port city and drew more than a hundred former bankers from across the region.
According to the organisers, the primary objective of the programme was to draw the attention of political leaders and policymakers to what they described as long-standing discrimination, arbitrary dismissals, and the absence of due process in the banking industry. They argued that only firm political and policy-level intervention could restore fairness, accountability, and professional security for banking professionals.
From early morning, participants gathered wearing T-shirts emblazoned with the words “Dismissed Banker”, which they said symbolised both their shared identity and years of professional deprivation. Throughout the programme, demonstrators chanted slogans calling for justice, restoration of employment, protection of labour rights, and respect for democratic freedoms. Speakers repeatedly stressed that the sit-in was conducted in a calm, orderly, and non-violent manner.
The protesters alleged that many dismissals were carried out on the basis of political beliefs, trade union activities, or for speaking out against irregularities and mismanagement within their institutions. In numerous cases, they claimed, termination decisions were enforced without specific written charges, transparent investigations, or proper departmental hearings. As a result, affected employees and their families have been pushed into severe financial hardship and social insecurity.
One dismissed banker, Elias Hossain, told reporters that many former employees had become heavily indebted following sudden job losses after years of service. He said families were struggling to cover basic expenses, including children’s education and medical treatment. According to him, the absence of fair investigations and impartial justice would continue to undermine morale, professionalism, and a sense of security across the banking sector.
Protest leaders further noted that over the past decade restrictions on workplace dissent and freedom of expression within banks had intensified, contributing to a worrying rise in dismissals. They framed the issue not merely as a collection of individual grievances, but as a broader national concern linked to institutional justice, labour rights, and the long-term stability of the financial system.
At the closing stage of the programme, organisers warned that if their demands were ignored, they would announce larger, nationwide protest actions. They maintained that without ensuring justice for dismissed employees, it would be impossible to establish sustainable stability, accountability, and professional trust in the banking sector.
The key demands raised during the sit-in are summarised below:
| Demand | Description |
|---|---|
| Reinstatement | Reappointment of bankers dismissed without due process to their previous positions |
| Independent investigation | Formation of an impartial commission to review dismissal cases |
| Financial compensation | Payment of outstanding salaries, allowances, and benefits |
| Policy reform | Introduction of transparent and fair dismissal policies in the banking sector |
Organisers expressed hope that in the context of anticipated political changes, their demands would receive serious consideration, paving the way for a more just, transparent, and rights-based environment in Bangladesh’s banking industry.