Published January 28,2025
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Train providers throughout Bangladesh, together with from the capital’s major Dhaka railway station, got here to a halt on Tuesday morning as railway employees launched a nationwide strike, demanding the reinstatement of long-standing particular allowances.
The strike, involving prepare drivers, help employees, and different railway staff, adopted the breakdown of negotiations between railway authorities and the drivers’ affiliation on Monday.
Railway staff, together with guards, drivers, assistant drivers, and ticket inspectors, have been pushing for pension advantages, gratuities, and a working allowance on high of their base wage. This allowance, which compensates staff for shifts exceeding eight hours a day, traditionally added 75% of its worth to retirees’ pensions.
However, the Finance Ministry scaled again these advantages in November 2021, sparking rising unrest amongst staff.
Railways Adviser Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan visited the principle Kamalapur Railway Station in Dhaka and talked to commuters.
He stated that “there may be demands” however suspending trains and leaving passengers stranded is “regrettable,” including that the matter is now with the Finance Ministry.
Discussions are underway, he stated, expressing hope that the difficulty can be resolved quickly.
Union chief Md. Mujibur Rahman defended the employees’ calls for, stating the allowance had been in place for 160 years, relationship again to British colonial rule. He added that the strike would proceed till the Finance Ministry points a proper clarification reinstating the allowance.
“The logical demands of the railway employees had already been met in government capacity, and no other demands beyond that can be met,” Finance Advisor Salehuddin Ahmed instructed reporters on Tuesday.
– COMMUTERS STRANDED, ALTERNATIVE BUSES DEPLOYED
At Dhaka’s Kamalapur Railway Station, many passengers had been left stranded Tuesday morning, unaware of the strike. Others scrambled to search out various modes of transportation.
In response, the Ministry of Railways launched particular bus providers in collaboration with the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority to mitigate disruptions.
Passengers holding prepare tickets can now use the transport authority’s buses departing from Dhaka Railway Station and Dhaka Airport Railway Station. This service can be accessible for passengers touring to Dhaka from these stations.
The various bus providers will stay in place till additional discover, in keeping with the ministry.
Source: www.anews.com.tr