Office-bearers of different banks at SBI main branch at Gandhi Maidan in Patna on Wednesday. Picture by Deepak Kumar

The business community was hit more than the common man in the state capital on the first day of the nationwide bank strike.

The public bank employees on strike denied people even the relief expected from private banks. Sources said though employees of private banks turned up at work, they were forced to down their shutters. Automated teller machines (ATMs) were also closed in almost all areas, including Boring Road, Bailey Road and Frazer Road.

While residents claimed that they were saved because of the advance warning, businessmen were affected as they failed to do any transaction. Bihar Industries Association president KPS Keshri told The Telegraph the effect of the strike would be felt over the next four to five days.

Anjani Kumar, a resident of Boring Canal Road, said: “Those who had to prepare draft or challan, deposit money or transfer funds were affected.”

Another businessman said: “Funds transfer is a major source of transaction and that is where we were hit the most. People depending on transfer of funds have to wait for two days. Receiving line of credit has also been hampered.”

Bihar Chamber of Commerce president O.P. Sah said: “This is not the way demands are met with. The unions should have spoken to the government to resolve their dispute.”

About 10 lakh officers and employees of public sector banks, including more than 40,000 bank employees in Bihar, have gone on strike under the banner of United Forum of Bank Unions. The conglomerate of nine bank unions is protesting against the Centre’s decision to carry out reforms in the sector and privatise nationalised banks.

B. Prasad, the general secretary of Bank Employees’ Federation of India, said: “The strike was cent per cent successful because all the public sector, private sector, foreign, cooperative and rural banks kept their shutters down in support of our demands. We want facilities like compassionate appointments, fixed working hours, updated pension as availed by employees of the central government and public sector undertakings.”