UCO Bank Bhagalpur Officers Hold Dharna Over Stress and Guideline Violations, Say the ‘Harassment on Women, Persons with Disabilities, and Officers Must Stop’

The protest centred on increasing workplace stress, difficulty in maintaining a work-life balance, and concerns raised over alleged violations of guidelines by UCO Bank Bhagalpur management.

While speaking to Kanal, Chandra Mohan Singh, General Secretary of the Bihar State UCO Bank Officers’ Association, said that UCO Bank officers in Bhagalpur have been pushed to the brink due to rising stress, continuous guideline violations, and growing neglect of employee welfare by the bank's management.

Image: Large gathering of officers during the one-day dharna at UCO Bank Bhagalpur

Key Concerns of the Officers
According to Chandra Mohan Singh, the central concern raised during the dharna was the excessive stress on bank employees and their inability to maintain a healthy work-life balance.

“Cruel pressure and harassment on women employees, divyang (persons with disabilities), and officers must stop immediately.”

They reiterated the importance of the 8–8–8 formula for employee wellbeing:

8 hours for health
8 hours for family
8 hours for office work

Under the current workload, officers said this basic balance has become unachievable.

They also alleged that the UCO Bank Bhagalpur management is violating operational guidelines, neglecting staff issues, and hurting local sentiments (“Bihari bhavna”), which must be stopped immediately.

Union Issues Formal Agitation Notice to Management
The Bihar State UCO Bank Officers’ Association also issued a formal agitation notice to the Bhagalpur Zonal Office, citing unjust transfers, violation of bank and government guidelines, and breach of safety for women officers. The letter states that despite multiple meetings and written communications, the management “failed to act,” forcing officers to escalate their protest program. The notice outlines a phased agitation plan and warns that unresolved issues will further intensify the union’s statewide campaign.


Image: The official letter submitted by the Bihar State UCO Bank Officers’ Association highlighting transfer-related issues, guideline violations, and safety concerns

Leadership and Presence of Representatives
The dharna was led by Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh Bihar General Secretary Sanjay Sinha, President Rajesh Kumar Pal, and All India UCO Bank Officers’ Federation President Chandra Mohan Singh. NOBO leaders including Kumar Avinash and Abhishek Sinha were also present.
The programme was conducted by BSUCBOA President Avneesh Verma and Zonal Secretary Anand Kumar Singh.

Participation of Committee Representatives
The event was attended by Bihar State Bankers’ Committee President Shri Abhishek Sinha, Bihar State Committee Deputy General Secretary Shri Rohit Kumar, and Bihar State SC/ST & OBC Council Secretary Shri Yogesh Kumar, who expressed dissatisfaction over the management’s actions. Bihar Deputy General Secretary Shri Shyam Kumar was also present.

The one-day dharna by UCO Bank officers in Bhagalpur marks the latest development in an ongoing disagreement between the association and the bank’s management over transfers, workload, guideline adherence and employee welfare. With formal notices issued and further protest actions outlined, the matter now depends on the response and actions taken by the concerned authorities in the coming days.