Can this be trade unionism?

The heckling of a governor is nothing new in Bangladesh Bank; only that it has recurred after a longish time-lag to get our hackles up. One would have thought that Bangladesh Bank's notorious reputation as the hot-bed of rabid trade unionism had been left behind with her 'essential service' status sinking in with the psyche of the employees' union. But no, the sinister flashes of the past show themselves whenever a governor is disobliging to demands of the CBAs. It is the return of the nightmare that comes through as a frightening prospect.

The pandemonium that also engulfed the offices of Deputy Governor and Executive Director following the Governor's refusal to entertain the agitators' demands owed its origin in the Bank's decision to recruit 100 assistant directors through competition. The central bank does need infusion of fresh blood from time to time. Obviously, when meritocracy has been somewhat at a discount there leading up to the authorities' resolve to bring in some quality manpower for justifiable reasons, a premium per se would be put on direct recruitment. Does it mean, the top-brass of the central bank would buckle under pressure? Exactly where a balance should be struck between vertical mobility and direct recruitment is for the central bank policy-makers to decide with a longer-term vision. Now, the staff and officers have made a common cause of resisting direct recruitment on the ground that an intake of a hundred assistant directors would block their chances of promotion. The authorities are saying vacancies for promotion do not exist. What the agitators are seeking amounts to en bloc or en massepromotion which is neither desirable nor practicable. Assuming that the authorities' hands have been forced by the demonstrators to give them large scale promotion, what then? Surely the governor cannot realistically promote the agitating employees and officers in a blanket fashion. Resultantly, those denied of the cake's share would invariably bear a grudge -- not only towards the bank's top-brass but also to those who would be promoted amongst them. So, what we are looking at is the prospect of perennial agitation, demonstration, polarisation and conflict at the centre of the banking system -- the Bangladesh Bank.

Tap here to add The Daily Star as a trusted source

Political patronage and mentoring of the trade unions have been the latter's sustainer, its life-force. Basically, they are like chameleons changing colour with the change of government. This is not to say that opposition-leaning trade unionism disappears with the changing of the guard. It may not, but the point is: CBAs dare excesses when feeling emboldened by a linkage to the ruling party, perceived or tangible.

As a marked departure from the pattern, it is good to see that the government has taken a serious view of Tuesday's incidents in Bangladesh Bank. It is highly commendable that the prime minister has ordered that stringent measures be taken against employees and officers playing a havoc with discipline in the central bank under the leadership of their respective CBAs. Bangladesh Bank authorities have filed a case with the Motijheel police station accusing trade unionist high-handedness. The intelligence agencies have launched a hunt to apprehend the ring-leaders of Tuesday's rumpus. All these tough measures should start having an effect on the trade union-led belligerency at the Bangladesh Bank. Apparently undeterred at this stage though, the CBA general secretary has given an ultimatum to the government to meet their demands by Thursday or face their 'next course of action'. They have tainted the image of the central bank and that of the country, embarrassingly in presence of a team of International Monetary Fund, currently sojourning Dhaka.

We view the indiscipline syndrome in the overall context of the banking reform programme. There is no way we can make a short shrift of these or condone them.