Train services in Bangladesh impacted as staff goes on strike

Multiple trains across Bangladesh were cancelled on Tuesday after railway staff went on an indefinite strike for higher pensions and other benefits. Tens of thousands of passengers and freight transport have been impacted in the aftermath of the strike.

Saidur Rahman, acting president of the Bangladesh Railway Running Staff and Workers Union, said the decision to strike was taken after a meeting with the interim government headed by Nobel Peace laureate Muhammad Yunus failed to reach a deal on Monday, as per Daily Star.

Rahman confirmed that the strike will be indefinite if the government fails to accept the demands of the railway staff, which includes drivers, assistant drivers, guards and ticket checkers.

The state-run railway system carries more than 65 million passengers annually (250,000 passengers daily) across the country. It employs around 25,000 people, operating through a network of more than 36,000 kilometers (22,000 miles). 

The strike impacted the operations of about 400 passenger trains, including over 100 inter-city services. At least three dozen freight trains operated by Bangladesh Railway were also affected due to the staff sit-down.

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While the railway staff have been regularly working beyond scheduled hours due to a shortage of manpower, there has been no proper overtime payment after a controversial government decision in November 2021 removed pension benefits based on overtime work.

Responding to the strike, Bangladesh’s railways ministry stated that train passengers can use their pre-booked train tickets on bus services for some important train routes from Tuesday.

“Bangladesh Railway and the railways ministry are very sincere and trying their best to meet the demands of the staff… we have been in regular touch with the finance ministry,” the railways ministry said in a statement, urging the workers to cancel the strike.