Rail services across Bangladesh came to a standstill on Tuesday, leaving millions of passengers stranded. Railway employees, demanding compensation for additional work, launched a nationwide indefinite strike, disrupting transportation throughout the country.
The workers have been protesting for months over disputes regarding overtime pay and pension benefits, leading to their withdrawal from work.
According to media reports, the workers&rsquo; union had given the authorities until Monday to address their demands.
The strike has affected the operation of nearly 400 passenger trains, including over 100 intercity services and more than three dozen freight trains operated by Bangladesh Railway. On average, around 250,000 passengers travel by train daily in Bangladesh.
The Ministry of Railways announced that passengers with pre-booked tickets would be allowed to use certain bus services on key train routes starting Tuesday.
In a statement, the ministry said, &ldquo;Bangladesh Railway and the ministry are taking this issue very seriously. Efforts are being made to meet the workers&rsquo; demands... We are in regular contact with the Ministry of Finance.&rdquo;
The ministry also appealed to the striking employees to call off the protest.
The striking railway workers, including drivers, assistant drivers, guards, and ticket checkers, routinely work beyond scheduled hours due to manpower shortages. Traditionally, they have been compensated with overtime pay and pension benefits for the extra hours worked.
However, a controversial government decision in November 2021 eliminated pension benefits based on overtime work, causing widespread dissatisfaction among the workforce. Employees argue that this decision jeopardizes their financial security after retirement.
In April 2022, the Ministry of Railways intervened to reinstate these pension benefits. However, workers remain concerned that the current interim government, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, might reverse the policy.
Adding to the workers&rsquo; grievances, some newly recruited employees have been excluded from receiving both overtime pay and pension benefits. Their appointment letters explicitly state that they are not entitled to such allowances.
&mdash;IANS

Stranded passengers wait during Bangladesh rail strike

Rail strike halts services in Bangladesh, millions stranded; workers demand pay, pension benefits

Bangladesh Rail Strike Strands Millions, Crisis Grows

Rail strike halts services in Bangladesh, millions stranded; workers demand pay, pension benefits

January 28, 2025 | 22:21 IST