Dismissed officers and employees of Islami Bank Limited blocked Chattogram-Cox’s Bazar highway on Monday evening in protest against an attack on their colleagues in Dhaka.
The blockade, staged at around 7pm in Karnafuli area of the city, caused severe traffic disruption and created long tailbacks on both sides of the highway, leading to suffering for passengers.
According to Karnafuli Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Noor Ahmed, the demonstrators left after blockading the road for about an hour, and traffic movement has now returned to normal.
Earlier in the afternoon, the dismissed bank staff held a press conference and a protest rally in front of Chattogram Press Club to voice outrage against the assault and demand reinstatement to their jobs.
According to one demonstrator, dismissed Islami Bank personnel were holding a peaceful meeting in Dhaka when they were attacked by individuals under the banner of “Grahak Forum.”
“We are all victims. The dismissed employees of Islami Bank must be reinstated. We are living in great hardship after losing our jobs,” the protester said.
An employee holding the rank of office assistant who joined the blockade said, “We were at no fault and had no involvement in any bank affairs. We stood up when told to rise and sat down when told to sit. Now, considering our families, please reinstate us.”
Demonstrators added that they had been demanding job reinstatement for a long time. The failure to meet their demands had built up anger, which escalated further following the assault in Dhaka.
“I have spoken with the demonstrators. They do not have specific leadership, which is why different individuals are saying different things,” OC Ahmed said.
