Protest Erupts in Uttar Bihar Gramin Bank Over Alleged Harassment by Regional Manager

The Uttar Bihar Gramin Bank Employees and Officers Federation in Darbhanga, Bihar, staged a one day strike on July 10, 2024 against the alleged inhumane behaviour and authoritarian working style of Regional Manager (RM), Riazuddin Ahmed. The federation has accused him of subjecting staff, especially female employees, to severe harassment and torture since May 2023.

Image: Protesting Bankers of Uttar Bihar Gramin Bank

A Year of Alleged Tyranny and Exploitation

For over a year, Riazuddin Ahmed has allegedly crossed all boundaries of tyranny, exploitation, and brutality. The staff has reported being held back from their work, facing mental harassment, and witnessing the daily violation of rules and regulations. The atmosphere at the bank has been described as more terrifying than slavery, with employees reportedly being forced into illegal activities like fake KCC renewals and unauthorised enrolments in Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJBY), Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY), and Pradhan Mantri Atal Pension Yojana (PMAPY) through MS Excel without customer consent. 

Image: Letter of UBGBOF Letter on abrupt posting of employees by Regional Manager 

The Uttar Bihar Gramin Bank Officers Federation wrote a letter to the Chairman on June 6, citing the abrupt posting of employees to branches near the district headquarters, who are close to the Regional Manager.

As per members of the Federation, it was forced to stage a protest due to misdeeds of the RM. The bank management is flouting all established rules in the bank, jeopardising the future of the staff. The allegations alleged by bank employees and officers federation against the Regional Manager are as follows:

1. Premature transfers, even transferring female staff on maternity leave prematurely.
2. Transferring staff with less than one year left until retirement to distant branches.
3. Not attending calls from any staff but calling through other regional office staff to threaten and personally insult the staff.
4. Not processing terminal benefits for retired/deceased relatives for years.
5. Not approving leave for staff even for necessary work or illness and making them take unpaid leave.
6. Assigning choice postings to his sycophants and their dependents.
7. Delaying the provision of benefits.

Staff in Distress

Neeraj Chaudhary, General Secretary of the Uttar Bihar Gramin Bank Employees and Officers Federation, told Kanal, “Employees are reportedly working under severe distress due to the abusive and unwarranted behaviour of the regional manager. Despite multiple complaints from various unions and a joint forum to the current chairman, Mr. Sohail Ahmed, no action has been taken. The chairman is allowing the RM to continue his alleged tyrannical behaviour unchecked.”

The Uttar Bihar Gramin Bank, established in May 2008 and headquartered in Muzaffarpur, is sponsored by the Central Bank of India and operates across eighteen districts of Bihar. With 1,027 branches and an approx workforce of 3,300 employees, the bank has a significant presence in the region.

According to a union member, the federation is planning a major protest at the headquarters in September 2024 if the situation does not improve. He also indicated that this could escalate to an indefinite strike, and they would take their demands to the judiciary to seek justice.

Concern Call From Various Unions

In response to the distressing developments at the bank, various fraternal unions, including the Uttar Bihar Gramin Bank Employees and Officers Association, the Uttar Bihar Officers-Workers Organisation, and the Uttar Bihar Gramin Bank Officers Confederation, have raised their voices against the Regional Manager's high-handedness.

In a letter to bank’s Chairman dated February 25, 2024, the AIRRBEA-affiliated Uttar Bihar Gramin Bank Employees and Officers Association stated, “The Regional Manager's dictatorial behaviour and use of intimidating language against female branch managers, including threats of transfer to remote regions, have caused severe mental stress on the workforce.”

Image: Letter of Uttar Bihar Gramin Bank Officers and Employees Association to the Chairman alleging misbehaviour of Regional Manager

The BMS-affiliated Uttar Bihar Officers-Workers Organisation criticised the Regional Manager in a February 29, 2024 letter to the Chairman, stating, “The Regional Manager is more interested in fulfilling his whims than in the development of the bank's business, creating an oppressive environment for the employees.”

Image: Letter of Uttar Bihar Officers-Workers Organisation alleging misbehaviour of Regional Manager 

Similarly, the AIBOC-affiliated Uttar Bihar Gramin Bank Officers Confederation expressed concern over the Regional Manager’s conduct in a letter to the Chairman dated February 26, 2024, revealing that, “Despite multiple complaints about his authoritarian and employee-oppressive actions, the management continues to support the Regional Manager, making it evident that he enjoys special protection.”

Image: Letter of Uttar Bihar Gramin Bank Officers Confederation alleging misbehaviour of Regional Manager 

The unions are demanding immediate action against the Regional Manager for his tyrannical and abusive conduct towards employees, particularly targeting female staff. They insist on his removal from the position to restore a fair and conducive working environment. If these demands are not met, it may lead to potential strikes and legal action.