Army deployed at Rajshahi station as angry passengers vandalise amid nationwide strike
Train services across the country have been halted since midnight as running staff protest for pension and gratuity payments with their mileage allowances
Army has been deployed at Rajshahi Railway Station after passengers vandalised Rajshahi Railway Station this morning (28 January) as train services were suspended due to an indefinite work stoppage by railway running staff.
They later dispersed after receiving ticket refunds.
Train services across the country have been halted since midnight as running staff protest for pension and gratuity payments with their mileage allowances. At Rajshahi station, no trains departed according to the schedule.
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Acting Station Master Shaheedul Alam told TBS that passengers became agitated upon arriving at the station and discovering that services had been suspended.
He added that they vandalised chairs and tables in the station, with some detaining and assaulting two staff members.
Several hundred passengers protested from 7am to 8am, damaging property, including chairs and tables in a ticket inspector's room. Other office doors were locked during the incident.
The situation calmed down after army personnel arrived, and refunds were issued, railway staff said.
Passengers expressed frustration, accusing railway authorities of negligence and demanding accountability.
"Passengers who purchased tickets from the counter were refunded there, while those with online tickets received refunds through mobile banking. The army is now stationed at the station, and the situation is under control," said Rajshahi Railway Station Manager Moyen Uddin as reported by Prothom Alo.
He added, "No trains were scheduled to leave Rajshahi from midnight until this morning. Six trains to various destinations, scheduled between 6:20am and 9am, did not depart. The Padma Express train, which left Dhaka last night, reached Rajshahi this morning."
Railway authorities stated that discussions are underway with higher officials to restore train operations.
