Banks remain closed in Bihar as emplooyees join strike

Patna, Oct 27 (UNI) Banking services in Bihar were paralysed today as more than 50,000 employees and officers of nationalised banks joined a day's token strike in response to a call of United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU).

The call for the strike was given to press fulfilment of their demands including one more option for pension scheme, restoration of compassionate ground appointment scheme, stopping the outsourcing of bank's works and acquisition of public sector banks.

General secretary of Bank Employees'Federation, Bihar, B Prasad claimed that private sector banks were also closed to express solidarity with the staff of the public sector banks.

The private banks which kept their operations closed include HDFC bank, Chartered Bank, Kotak Mahindra and ICICI, he added.

''Functioning of rural banks was also badly affected as its head office in Patna remained closed and branches in some districts also did not operate'',he claimed.

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