A nationwide bank strike called by the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) affected banking services in Guwahati on January 27, as bank employees protested to press for the introduction of a five-day work week in the banking sector. In Guwahati, banks affiliated to the UFBU, including Assam Gramin Bank and SBI among others, also joined the strike to lend weight to the five-day work week demand. Employees of some banks were seen sitting in protest outside the closed bank branches with banners high