Train services suspended nationwide in Bangladesh
The railway operating staff initiated a strike at midnight.
Train operations across Bangladesh have come to a halt as railway running staff launched a strike at midnight on Tuesday.
The Bangladesh Railway Running Staff and Workers' Association initiated the strike over unresolved issues regarding pension and gratuity benefits. They are demanding that the running allowance be included in their basic salary for these calculations. This has left passengers facing significant disruptions, with many stranded at railway stations across the country, including the capital’s Kamalapur Railway Station.
Md Mojibur Rahman, General Secretary of the Bangladesh Railway Running Staff and Workers' Association and Chief Coordinator of the Running Staff Unity Council, stated: “We, the running staff, have been on strike since midnight. Consequently, train services nationwide have been suspended. Our strike will continue until our demands are fulfilled.”
According to regulations, running staff are entitled to 12 hours of rest upon returning to their headquarters or 8 hours if stationed elsewhere. If they are required to work during these rest periods to support railway operations, they receive additional compensation known as mileage benefits. However, objections from the Ministry of Finance have reportedly deprived staff of these benefits, which has become a major point of contention.
Mohammad Anwar Hossain, the Station Master at Kamalapur Railway Station, confirmed that trains scheduled to depart until 12am on Monday eventually left their origin stations, albeit with delays. However, trains scheduled after midnight did not operate due to the strike. The last train on Tuesday left Kamalapur Station at 1am.
Passengers holding tickets for canceled trains, both online and offline, are being refunded.
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