Kolkata: Banking operation throughout the country is likely to remain paralysed on April 16 next following a nation-wide bank strike call given by United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) to protest government policies.

"Although the strike will disrupt normal banking business, we believe that people will appreciate that bank employees are going in for the strike in public interest, to protest against Union government's anti-employee, anti-people policies and not for financial or any other gain for themselves alone," UFBU (West Bengal Unit) Convenor Ashok Datta said.

Datta said that the "strike call has been given in the backdrop of Union government's attack on jobs and job security, the rights of workers and trade unions, imposition of further tax burden, ongoing disinvestment programme of public sector undertakings (PSUs) including nationalised banks for which a Bill has already been tabled in Parliament."

To make the strike a complete success and to make the people aware of the issues, the state unit of UFBU will organise tiffin-time demonstrations at all bank branches on April 4, he said.

This will be followed by street corner meetings at various places in the city and district headquarters on April 9 and joint rallies on April 12, Datta said.

PTI