Train services will be suspended across the country starting Monday midnight (January 28) when Bangladesh Railway’s running staff will go on a strike over unresolved salary and allowance issues.
Staff members, including loco masters, assistant loco masters, TTEs, and train guards, had threatened to go on strike. Their demands include adding the running allowance to their basic salary for calculating pension and gratuity.
The protesting employees said that since the British era, running staff have received 75% extra pay along with allowances and pensions, considering their role as essential personnel. They noted that current train staff often work several times longer than the standard eight-hour shift, continuing until the train completes its journey and returns to its destination.
Moreover, the staff do not receive weekly days off. Because of these circumstances, the Ministry of Finance discontinued this benefit through a notification in 2021.
Since then, railway’s running staff have been demanding to restore their financial benefits. They have gone on strikes and refused to do overtime duties.
Despite several rounds of discussions, no solution was reached. Earlier this month, the Running Staff Oikya Parishad threatened to go on a strike if their demands were not met by January 28.
