Niraj Kumar Panda Chief General Manager SBI of the Kolkata Circle Inauguration SBIOA AGM at Nazrul Manch Kolkata. Pictures by Bibhash Lodh/BS News Agency.
Sanchita Chatterjee, BS News Agency, Kolkata: State Bank of India Officers' Association (Bengal Circle), an affiliate of All India State Bank Officers' Federation (AISBOF), representing the interests of almost 6000 officers of the Circle, organised its 60th Annual General Meeting (Diamond Jubilee Year), today (10th January, 2026) at Kishore Kobi Sukanta Bhattacharya Mancha (Nazrul Mancha), Rishi Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay Nagar (Kolkata).
While inaugurating the Annual General Meeting of State Bank of India Officers' Association (Bengal Circle) Shri Rupam Roy, General Secretary, All India Bank Officers' Confederation (AIBOC) and All India State Bank Officers' Federation (AISBOF), voiced his concems regarding several important issues directly impinging on the interest of the banking fraternity and the public at large. Congratulating the members of SBIOA (Bengal Circle) for their overwhelming participation in the meeting, he lauded SBIOA (Bengal Circle) for being one of the pillars of AIBOC (WBSU) and AISBOF, for its unceasing efforts for the cause of the common man as well as the officers' community. Over the years, the Public Sector Banks have remained major contributors in strengthening the economy and providing safety and security to the hard-earned money of the common man, but unfortunately they are facing threats of privatisation. While Public Sector Banks have been playing a leading role in implementing all the schemes of the Government like Jan Dhan Yojana, Mudra loans, PM SvaNidhi Yojana, Aadhar Seeding, etc., Government is reluctant in addressing the major pertinent issues like 5 Day work week, recruitment of regular employees in PSBs, appointment of Officer Directors on the Banks' Boards etc. Shri Roy firmly stated that UFBU has called for a nationwide strike on 27th January 2026 and will force the Government to honour its commitment of implementing 5 day work week as arrived at in the 9th Joint Note between IBA and the Banking Trade Unions. He exhorted all to make this strike successful in totality. He said that if the Government of India does not budge; UFBU will embark upon a long drawn agitation programme including further strike action to achieve its legitimate demands. Shri Roy thanked the membership for overwhelming participation in the X Campaign, demonstration programmes, badge wearing, sending letters to IBA and FM for as part of our agitation programme for 5 days banking. Further expanding on the legitimacy of the demand, he said that there would no loss of man-hours as Bankers would be working an additional 40 minutes from Monday to Friday. He reiterated that LIC, GIC, Stock Exchanges, State and Central Governments etc. are all closed on Saturdays and Sundays. He also explained how AIBOC is taking up the issues of the common man through social media by releasing videos. He also opposed the Privatisation of IDBI Bank. He decried the micro management of DFS in operational aspects of PSBs and batted for independence of Bank Boards. He also vehemently opposed appointment of private sector candidates to the post of Managing Directors in PSBs. Appreciating the performance of SBI, Kolkata Circle, in terms of various business parameters. Shri Roy appraised the positive role of SBI Officers' Association (Bengal Circle). He also added that many issues of SBI officers were yet to be settled and would be taken up with the Bank Management at the right earnest.