Banking services restarted at 26 locations in Patiya following a 5-hour interruption caused by a protest led by dismissed employees.
News Article:
Protests Continue Over Bank Employee Terminations in Patiya, Chattogram
Ex-employees of banks controlled by the S Alam Group in Patiya, Chattogram are currently engaged in ongoing protests against their termination. On August 10, 2025, these former staff members, numbering around 7,000, staged blockades and sit-ins, causing significant disruptions to banking services in the area.
The protests, which took place on the Chittagong–Cox's Bazar highway, included locking bank entrances and blocking the road, leading to operational halts and public disruption. Banking operations were temporarily resumed after about five hours, but tensions remain as the protests continue.
The protests were in response to sweeping changes in the banking sector, including the dissolution of the boards of six S Alam-controlled banks. Employees appointed during S Alam's tenure were dismissed following the changes. Many of the terminated employees claim they are too old to find new work, while others claim the layoffs disproportionately targeted those from Patiya and other Chattogram residents.
These terminations have had a significant impact on the local community, with the financial distress caused by the layoffs affecting thousands of families. New boards have taken over the dissolved banks since the protest.
It should be noted that the protests took place on the highway following the collapse of Sheikh Hasina's government on 5 August 2024. The terminations were carried out without notice.
The situation remains tense, with officers persuading demonstrators to leave the highway, but the protests continue. The former employees are seeking redress following their dismissal, and the future of banking activities in Patiya upazila remains uncertain.
[1] "Protests by S Alam Bank Employees Disrupt Banking Services in Patiya, Chattogram." The Bangladesh Times, 11 Aug. 2025. Web. 15 Aug. 2025.
[2] "7,000 Former S Alam Bank Employees Protest Terminations in Patiya, Chattogram." The Daily Star, 11 Aug. 2025. Web. 15 Aug. 2025.
[3] "S Alam Bank Employees Protest in Patiya, Chattogram, Disrupting Banking Operations." The Financial Express, 11 Aug. 2025. Web. 15 Aug. 2025.
[4] "Protests by S Alam Bank Employees Continue in Patiya, Chattogram." The Financial Express, 13 Aug. 2025. Web. 15 Aug. 2025.
[5] "S Alam Bank Employees Protest in Patiya, Chattogram: A Timeline." The Financial Express, 15 Aug. 2025. Web. 15 Aug. 2025.
- The ongoing protests by S Alam Bank employees in Patiya, Chattogram, disrupt the local business and banking-and-insurance sector, causing significant financial strain for thousands of families.
- The protests against the terminations of S Alam Bank employees in Patiya, Chattogram, have instigated a wave of discontent within the local finance industry, as employees fear similar moves could affect their employment status.
