By IANS,
Kolkata : Banking services in West Bengal were hit Wednesday, the first day of a two-day nationwide bank strike called by the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU).
The bank strike, called by the UFBU, an apex body of nine bank associations, is in tandem with the 48-hour shutdown called by 11 central trade unions.
“The strike is 100 percent successful. Bank officers and employees are fully participating in it in West Bengal. Branches are closed across the state,” UFBU convenor N.N. Bhattacharya told IANS.
According to Bhattacharya, ATMs were expected to remain operational during the day till the money in them ran out. “Our employees will not close ATM outlets,” he said.
Operations at Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) Kolkata office came to a standstill, according to the All India Reserve Bank Employees’ Association.
“Operation is totally stopped. Workers as well as officers are participating in the shutdown,” association secretary Sudipta Saha Roy said.