A two-day nationwide bank strike has been called for March 24 and 25 by the United Forum of Bank Unions, a joint platform of various bank organizations. This development makes the strike almost inevitable, as announced by the unions. The strike is expected to cause significant inconvenience to the general public, effectively disrupting banking services for four consecutive days, including the weekends of March 22-23, which are regular holidays. The unions’ demands include filling vacant positions within banks, improving customer service standards, and ensuring that banks remain operational on weekends. Although an agreement regarding these issues was previously reached with the Bangladesh Bank, the unions claim that no substantial progress has been made to implement the terms of the agreement.

The unions argue that unresolved challenges have left customers and employees dissatisfied. They believe that without immediate action, the banking sector will continue to face inefficiencies. Meanwhile, the public braces for disruptions in transactions, loan processing, and other essential banking activities during the strike period. Many customers are now rushing to complete their financial tasks ahead of time to avoid potential complications. While the strike highlights systemic issues within the banking industry, it also underscores the urgent need for dialogue between stakeholders to address grievances and find sustainable solutions.