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State Bank of India Officers’ Association of North Eastern Circle in Tezpur Region, has sent bangles to General Secretary of AIBEA – CH Venkatachalam.
In a letter addressed to CH Venkatachalam, the officers took a jibe at the GS of AIBEA and sarcastically said that – We congratulate you and your team on the “historic success” achieved on the night of 27th September 2026. Your negotiating skills are unprecedented and never before were we so stunned at the speed of any decision taken by a negotiating committee of bankers. If it would have been in our hands, we would have recommended your name to be the next prime minister of India or may be, the general secretary of United Nations. Anyway, that is currently not in our hands. As of now, we are sending you a gift as a token of our respect and gratitude.
Bangles were sent as a symbolic protest and insult. Sending bangles to a man is sometimes used to question his courage, determination or ability to fight. The message is clear – “If you cannot take a firm stand and fight for the demand, wear bangles.”
By sending bangles to the General Secretary of AIBEA, the officers are trying to convey that they believe the leadership showed weakness by calling off/defering the strike at the last moment.
This letter reflects the anger and resentment among bankers. Many bankers are unhappy with the UFBU leaders for deferring the strike without achieving the implementation of five-day banking.
Bankers across India were ready to go on strike from September 28 to 30, 2026. However, on the night of September 27, the UFBU suddenly deferred the strike, saying that a high-level committee would be formed to look into the implementation of five-day banking.
Bankers are now asking what was the need for another committee. A proposal for the implementation of five-day banking had already been agreed upon and signed in March 2024 as part of the 12th Bipartite Settlement (12th BPS).
The proposal was then sent to the government for approval. More than two years have passed, but five-day banking has still not been implemented. Now, another committee has been formed to look into the same issue.
Bankers are therefore questioning the purpose of this committee when five-day banking had already been agreed upon. They are also expressing their anger towards the UFBU leaders and asking them to explain why the strike was deferred at the last moment.
