Shahinur Rahman Sona, Rajshahi

A severe deadlock has emerged at the Small Enterprise Credit Program (SECP) of Rajshahi Krishi Unnayan Bank (RAKUB).

 Since June 16, all activities of the project have remained virtually paralyzed after 42 officers and employees launched an indefinite work stoppage, protesting the failure to regularize their jobs even after more than two decades of service, as well as alleging gross negligence, indifference, and abuse of authority by Project Director (PD) Abdullah Salah Uddin Gazi.

As a result, all administrative and field-level operations of the project, including loan disbursement to small and medium entrepreneurs across northern Bangladesh, have come to a complete standstill.

Although the protesting employees are demanding job regularization, their primary grievance centers on Project Director Abdullah Salah Uddin Gazi. They allege that while he shifts all responsibility onto RAKAB authorities, he has failed to take meaningful initiatives himself.

Under government regulations, deputation appointments are generally limited to a maximum of three years. However, Gazi has reportedly remained in the same position for seven years. Employees claim that during the previous government's tenure, he secured and retained the lucrative post due to his close ties with an influential state minister and has since continued operating without regard for established rules and regulations.

According to the employees, the PD repeatedly assured them of job regularization but demonstrated serious negligence in advancing the necessary files through the ministry. On July 10 last year, RAKAB's former Managing Director submitted a proposal to the Ministry of Finance seeking integration of the project, along with its workforce, into the bank's regular structure. However, despite nearly a year having passed, neither the current PD nor RAKAB management has taken any visible or effective steps to facilitate approval of the proposal.

The project was launched in 2002 with a non-refundable grant from the Royal Norwegian Government and was initially scheduled to conclude in 2007. Due to its remarkable success, a proposal was made that same year to integrate it into RAKAB.

Instead, bank authorities allegedly pursued the formation of a subsidiary company named "RAKAB SME Financing Company." Employees claim this initiative was inconsistent with RAKAB's legal framework, and the Bangladesh Bank subsequently rejected the company's licensing application on four separate occasions.

The employees further questioned why RAKAB's Board of Directors could appoint and regularize 19 officials under its own authority without ministry approval, while the integration of 42 long-serving project employees into the bank has been delayed for more than two decades.

The protesting employees stated that the project's own revenue covers not only their salaries but also the higher salaries, allowances, bonuses, provident fund, and gratuity benefits of about a dozen senior officials deputed from RAKAB. Even after meeting those expenses, the project reportedly generates an annual net profit of approximately BDT 80 to 100 million for the bank.

Despite contributing to this success, the 42 project employees claim they have remained on the same pay scale and grade since the beginning of their employment.

"Over the last 24 years, we have received no annual increments, no additional special benefits announced by the government in 2023 and 2024, no provident fund benefits, and no government incentives. Many of us are now approaching retirement age. Under these circumstances, we are struggling to support our families and living in extremely difficult conditions," said one of the protesting employees

Responding to allegations of negligence and the ongoing deadlock, Project Director Abdullah Salah Uddin Gazi said, "I have done everything within my capacity to facilitate the integration of these 42 officers and employees and have repeatedly communicated with the relevant ministries. Most recently, I assured them that all of us will continue our efforts together to secure their integration and ensure they receive all the benefits and rights they deserve."

However, the protesting employees dismissed the statement as a "clever but empty assurance." They reiterated that the work stoppage would continue until a specific written government order or official decision regarding their job regularization is issued.

They also urged the Ministry of Finance and the current authorities to intervene immediately, alleging that the interests of senior bureaucrats are being prioritized over the legitimate rights of the 42 employees.

Attempts were also made to obtain comments from Golam Mortuza, Managing Director of RAKAB and Chairman of the SECP Project. Officials at his office stated that he was currently in Dhaka.

The following day, journalists again visited the office and requested an interview through his Personal Secretary (PS) and Public Relations Officer. They reportedly informed the journalists that the Managing Director would not speak with the media. When his personal mobile phone number was requested for comment, the officials declined, citing strict instructions from the Managing Director.

As a result, no official statement from the bank's top management regarding the ongoing crisis could be obtained.