The mobile-phone operator came up with its reform plan and reaction to the protests at a media conference on Sunday evening after daylong tension at its Gulshan headquarters.
The employees confined Chief Technology Officer Perihane Elhamy inside the office for nine hours on Thursday night after the dismissal of senior manager Shariful Islam Bhuiyan.
They alleged Bhuyian was fired for his membership in the committee of a proposed employees union.
The tensions heightened when the organising secretary of that committee, power assistant manager Md Mostaque, fell sick while being interrogated by the authorities on Sunday morning.
The authorities then shut all the offices after 2pm.
Chief Commercial Officer Shihab Ahmad said in the media conference Bhuiyan’s dismissal was “part of normal business process”.
“This had led to some discontent and dissatisfaction among some of his colleagues and unfortunately, a group of employees, former employees, and outsiders blocked the entrance to our corporate office,” he said.
He claimed Mostaque fell sick during “normal discussion”.
“...unfortunately again some employees got emotional and gathered to express their concern,” he said.
About the reform plan, Ahmad said, “Banglalink is currently transforming its business into a world-class digital operator.
“As a part of this process, we are reviewing roles and structures to meet our future needs to ensure our business is best positioned for the exciting future ahead,” he said.
“As we reshape Banglalink, we have implemented a voluntary separation scheme and will begin consultations with staff who may be eligible,” he added.
He said those who are considering the option to leave the firm could accept the offer.
Asked how many employees they plan to send into retirement under the retrenchment scheme, he said there is no specific number.
“It will depend on the type of the restructuring to reshape the company for future,” he said.
“But as the question comes to many of the employees’ mind, we have offered the scheme for all,” he said.
He also said the scheme was not a ‘job cut plan’. “We do not have any specific number unlike the job cut plans,” he said.
He claimed the scheme is offering more facilities than the law stipulates.
Several Banglalink employees said they received the offer in an email at around 11am.
It said they will get basic salary of up to 30 months in line with their grades and tenures if they accept the offer.
After the media call, president of the proposed employees union Ujjal Paul told the reporters: “Everyone wants to get out of the fear that they are going to be fired."
He demanded that the authorities allow them to form the union and do not sack them for being involved with it.
A senior official of the operator said it has more than 2,000 permanent staffers.
It currently has over 32 million subscribers in Bangladesh.
Banglalink Digital Communications Limited is owned by Global Telecom Holding.
The Netherlands-based Vimpelcom Limited owns 51.92 percent shares of Global Telecom Holding.