Bangladesh Railway's running staff have halted work since midnight on Monday, demanding the restoration of mileage facilities and the resolution of pension and gratuity issues based on mileage. 

They also call for an increase in running allowances alongside their basic salaries.

The strike has severely disrupted train services nationwide, leaving passengers stranded as no scheduled trains departed. 

Drivers, guards, and ticket checkers are all participating in the protest.

Tensions escalated following a Finance Ministry directive issued on January 23, which limited allowances to active train duties and capped them at the basic salary. 

Staff argue that the decision overlooks their demanding workload, particularly for shifts exceeding eight hours.

The Railway Ministry urged officials and employees to maintain normal train operations on Monday night (Jan 27), according to a public notice issued by the ministry's Public Relations Officer, Rezaul Karim Siddiqui.

Attempts were made to contact the station manager and master of Dhaka Railway Station around 1 am (Jan 28) regarding the suspension of train services due to the running staff's strike, but they did not respond.

A law enforcement official stationed at Kamalapur Railway Station, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that the last three trains departed one by one after the scheduled time, all carrying passengers. 

He added that no other trains were expected to leave Kamalapur before dawn.

BDST: 1012 HRS, JAN 28, 2025
SMS