Termination without notice; BRAC Bank workers lie down in front of governor's car

Dismissed workers of BRAC Bank staged a protest demanding reinstatement in front of the CMSME women entrepreneur fair organized by Bangladesh Bank on the Bangla Academy premises. At this time, when Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr. Ahsan H. Mansur was leaving after finishing the event, they blocked his car and staged a blockade. At this time, some female workers lay down in front of the governor's car. Security personnel then removed them from there. At this time, the female workers faced harassment. At one point, a scuffle also broke out.

Security personnel dragged them away from there. Later, the governor left from there. The incident took place on the Bangla Academy premises on Thursday (May 08) around 12:30 pm. Since this morning, dismissed workers of BRAC Bank had been taking position there and demonstrating. The dismissed workers said, We have been unjustly dismissed from BRAC Bank. Although Bangladesh Bank gave directives to restore our jobs, they are not implementing it.

One of the agitating workers said, We have been providing service to BRAC Bank for a long time. BRAC Bank has reached this position today because of our hard work. Yet they dismissed us without any notice. We want our jobs back. Another worker said, Our jobs are gone, and at this age, we are facing social humiliation. We are also financially damaged. We were called in and forced to resign. When we want to meet the governor, we cannot.

The governor has come here today, we want to talk to him for a bit. Earlier, dismissed workers of BRAC Bank have been protesting at various times demanding job reinstatement. In February last, they also staged a protest in front of Bangladesh Bank. On February 9, a human chain was held demanding the reinstatement of 2,668 officials dismissed from BRAC Bank.

At that time, the victimized officials participating in the human chain claimed that they were unjustly relieved from their jobs due to the bank's arbitrary policy. Bangladesh Bank's investigation report stated that between 2021 and 2023, 2,553 workers were forced to resign, BRAC Bank's slogan is 'Astha Obichol', but in reality, we are seeing the opposite picture. The file for reinstatement is stuck at Bangladesh Bank, no resolution has been reached even though we sent letters five times.

Now we drive Pathao to earn a living. Bangladesh Bank's report stated that the BRAC Bank authority arbitrarily removed these workers from jobs. Although Bangladesh Bank directed their reinstatement based on the investigation, it has not been implemented even in the last 16 months. The demands of the victims are - immediate reinstatement and compensation for the dismissed workers. Taking legal action against responsible persons of the BRAC Bank authority.

Introducing a transparent and accountable process by Bangladesh Bank to prevent such injustices in the future. The victims have called for the prompt intervention of the government and the effective role of Bangladesh Bank. Regarding this matter, BRAC Bank PLC's Managing Director and CEO Selim R. F. Hossain said that some workers of this type who could not perform for a long time were relieved following the rules. They are the ones doing all this. Source: Dhaka Mail