***

Padma Roy Paladhy has been working in a bank for 22 years, beginning at the bottom, learning on the job. She is not baffled or bored with awesome columns 'of figures to be calculated. Her colleagues call her didi and she is seen working at her desk every banking day. Today she feels equal to the men around her and is a good example of how women can succeed in a man's world. Fayza Haq spent some time with her, talking.

***

DS : Since banking is predominantly a male profession what made you come Into banking?

Padma : I did not join banking directly. In '74 there was an advertisement In Grindley s for a telephone operator. 1 took this up to get pocket money. Two years later, there was a vacancy for a telex operator. I did this for six years and learnt about transfer of money. I did some paper work In other department as I had time in my hand. In '83 a cash booth was set up at Gulshan and 1 began working there Right now 1 am in charge of issuing traveller's cheques — and this is part of customer ser-vice. I have not learnt.banklng separately — I learnt while I 'was working

DS : Do you enjoy your work?

Padma : I do. as I meet people from various places Though the work is routine but the people are not 1 have never thought about changing my profession.

DS • Do your long hours conflict with your family.

Padma ; As I don't have a family of my own the question does not arise My mother and elder sisters ara qsed to my long hours. Earlier too. 1 did not work with balance sheets When I began my banking work at Gulshan I dealt with various things: people checking cash, opening accounts, and depositing cash.

DS : Do you find U difficult to work in a male dominant environment?

Padma : In ANZ. and even when it was known as Grind-ley's. we have never had any problem. The women have always got along very well work ing alongside the men

DS : What is your opinion of the present banking policy?

Padma : As I am working for the traveller's cheques department. 1 appreciate the fact that the bank has made tt pos sible for travellers to carry

currency with them when they travel. They have relaxed some of the regulations. The Quota is 83000 per person per year. I think this is good enough for tourist purposes. For medical reasons, if you have the neces-saiy papers you can take up to $10,000. For studies purpose too the regulations are relaxed.

DS : Do you think the foreign banks are playing an important role in the economy of Bangladesh?

Padma Foreign banks tend to function In an efficient way and this sets a good standard for the local banks

DS . Whaf Is your impres sion of the Beijing Conference?

Padma : It was a good idea to project and promote women from the third world coun tries. In this way more people will get to know about them. It might inspire the wbmen who watched the on- goings on TV to come out and work for themselves.

DS What is uour opinion of the Miss Bangladesh pageant?

Padma : In my opinion It wasn't much to talk about.

DS ; You have been working tn the bank for 22 years — how does your family feel about tt?

Padma Anyone would be proud to have a working lamlly member. 1 have to put In more than the nine to-five schedule and my people don't mind this ' in the least.

DS- What do you do in your spare ttme?

Padma . Ax I usually return home by 7.30 pm there Is time for anything else but watching TV -and reading books On weekend^ I visit friends On my holidays I go abroad, mostly to India as most of my relations are in West Bengal After visiting them 1 go off by myself to some seaside resort I live in Kakrail.. which, fortunately, is not far from my office in Motl-jheel. and I go to the work place and come back from there by nckshaw. and usually have lunch at the office