An arbitrary decision led to repeated strikes by railway running staff | The Business Standard
Skip to main content
  • Latest
  • Economy
    • Banking
    • Stocks
    • Industry
    • Analysis
    • Bazaar
    • RMG
    • Corporates
    • Aviation
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • Subscribe
    • Get the Paper
    • Epaper
    • GOVT. Ad
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
The Business Standard

Wednesday
July 23, 2025

Sign In
Subscribe
  • Latest
  • Economy
    • Banking
    • Stocks
    • Industry
    • Analysis
    • Bazaar
    • RMG
    • Corporates
    • Aviation
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • Subscribe
    • Get the Paper
    • Epaper
    • GOVT. Ad
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
WEDNESDAY, JULY 23, 2025
An arbitrary decision led to repeated strikes by railway running staff

Bangladesh

Foisal Ahmed
29 January, 2025, 10:10 pm
Last modified: 30 January, 2025, 12:35 am

Related News

  • Govt mulls OMS sale of potatoes to ensure fair prices for farmers
  • Bodies of 3 killed in Gopalganj exhumed on court orders, sent to hospital morgue
  • Questions raised over training jets flying above crowded city
  • Inside the Milestone school plane crash: What kind of aircraft was it?
  • Election under PR system will open door to extremism in Bangladesh: Tarique Rahman

An arbitrary decision led to repeated strikes by railway running staff

Train services resumed today (29 January) but met with delays in the morning

Foisal Ahmed
29 January, 2025, 10:10 pm
Last modified: 30 January, 2025, 12:35 am
Representational image. Photo: Collected
Representational image. Photo: Collected

Train services across Bangladesh resumed countrywide today (29 January) after railway running staff withdrew their strike as the government agreed to fulfil the demands they had been pressing for three years.

Allowances for railway running staff, including locomasters and guards, had been withheld since 2022 under the pretext of cost control, following a decision by the railway's top management at that time.

According to the running staff, this decision was arbitrary, as they had been legally entitled to these allowances for many years.

The Business Standard Google News Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel

The sudden suspension of payments led to protests including repeated strikes by the running staff. Lastly, the staff went on strike on Tuesday, as their demands remained unmet by Monday in line with their previous warning.

The railway authorities finally accepted their demands in the early hours of yesterday, prompting the protesting running staff to resume work that morning.

If running staff worked more than eight hours a day, they received additional pay, known as mileage in railway terms.

For every 100 kilometres travelled, they earned an extra day's basic salary. Over a month, this added up to two and a half to three months of work. 

Upon retirement, 75% of mileage was included in pension calculations. While the Finance Ministry has reinstated mileage benefits, it has not granted the 75% gratuity. 

Saidur Rahman, general secretary (metropolitan) of the Railway Running Staff and Sramik Karmachari Union, expressed his concerns, stating, "While we appreciate the restoration of mileage benefits, our other demands remain unfulfilled. The 75% gratuity benefit, which was previously provided, has not been reinstated." 

Md Mohsin Ali, organising secretary of the Railway Running Staff and Sramik Karmachari Union, alleged, "In 2022, the former director general of the Railway Department, along with the railways secretary and minister at the time, withheld running allowances under the guise of cost-saving and in an attempt to align themselves with the previous government."

According to railway sources, the running staff had long been receiving running allowance, pension, and gratuity benefits in accordance with the prevailing railway codes and regulations.

However, in November 2021, certain benefits for running staff were either revoked or reduced, which came into effect from January 2022. As a result, at the time of final retirement, a running staff member loses the benefit of having their running allowance included in the calculation of their pension and gratuity.

Subsequently, widespread resentment arose among the running staff of the railway. Although high-level meetings were held and decisions were made in favour of them at that time, they were never implemented.  

In August 2023, a meeting was held with all stakeholders, chaired by the cabinet secretary. It was decided in the meeting that the running allowance, pension, and gratuity previously received by the running staff were lawful as per the relevant laws and regulations and would remain in effect as before.

However, the finance ministry did not issue any official notification regarding the matter until December 2024. As a result, newly appointed running staff went on strike on 1 December.

Subsequently, after discussions with them, a decision was made to resolve the issue. Following the assurance, the running staff suspended their strike activities until 27 January.

Services met with delays after resumption

Although the train services resumed on Wednesday, they met with delays in the morning. Between 6:30am and 11am, 13 trains departed the Kamalapur Railway Station, with minor schedule disruptions, Station Manager Anwar Hossain told TBS.

However, the biggest delay occurred with the Sylhet-bound Parabat Express, which was delayed by over four and a half hours, he said.

The strike that was imposed on Tuesday caused immense suffering for train passengers. The situation further worsened as bus and other road transportation service providers hiked fares to exorbitant rates amid increased demands due to the lack of train services.

The strike also severely disrupted supply chains, particularly along key routes from Chattogram Port.

Md Mojibur Rahman, general secretary of Bangladesh Railway Running Staff and Workers Union, announced the strike withdrawal in a press conference at around 2:45am yesterday after a meeting with Railways Adviser Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan at the latter's residence.

"The adviser told us that our problem will be solved by tomorrow [Wednesday]. We do not want public suffering. We express our regret. We are calling off the strike from now on," Mojibur said.

Top News

Railway / strike / Bangladesh

Comments

While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive, moderation decisions are subjective. Published comments are readers’ own views and The Business Standard does not endorse any of the readers’ comments.

Top Stories

  • Photo: CA Press Wing
    Stronger stance needed on maintaining law and order: Political parties to CA
  • Photo: Syed Zakir Hossain/TBS
    Secretariat protest: 75 injured in police-protester clash over edu adviser's resignation for delaying HSC rescheduling
  • Bangladesh win nail-biter to clinch series win 
    Bangladesh win nail-biter to clinch series win 

MOST VIEWED

  • Screengrab/Video collected from Facebook
    CCTV footage shows how Air Force jet nosedived after technical malfunction
  • ISPR clarifies crashed plane was battle aircraft, not training jet
    ISPR clarifies crashed plane was battle aircraft, not training jet
  • The jet plane charred after crash on 21 July at the Milestone school premises. Photo: Mehedi Hasan/TBS
    Milestone plane crash: Death toll rises to 31 as nine more succumb to injuries
  • Students and police clash at Milestone School and College on 22 July 2025. Photo: TBS
    Protesting Milestone students clash with police, besiege law and education advisers
  • Photo: Syed Zakir Hossain/TBS
    Secretariat protest: 75 injured in police-protester clash over edu adviser's resignation for delaying HSC rescheduling
  • Aerial view of the Milestone school premises where the crash took place on 21 July. Photo: Olid Ebna Shah/ TBS
    ‘Why here?’: Concerns expressed over airbase inside city

Related News

  • Govt mulls OMS sale of potatoes to ensure fair prices for farmers
  • Bodies of 3 killed in Gopalganj exhumed on court orders, sent to hospital morgue
  • Questions raised over training jets flying above crowded city
  • Inside the Milestone school plane crash: What kind of aircraft was it?
  • Election under PR system will open door to extremism in Bangladesh: Tarique Rahman

Features

Photo: Mehedi Hasan/TBS

Aggrieved nation left with questions as citizens rally to help at burn institute

7h | Panorama
Photo: TBS

Mourning turns into outrage as Milestone students seek truth and justice

2h | Panorama
Illustration: TBS

Uttara, Jatrabari, Savar and more: The killing fields that ran red with July martyrs’ blood

1d | Panorama
Despite all the adversities, girls from the hill districts are consistently pushing the boundaries to earn repute and make the nation proud. Photos: TBS

Ghagra: Where dreams rise from dust for Bangladesh women's football

2d | Panorama

More Videos from TBS

What information did the director of the NBPSI give about the admitted patients?

What information did the director of the NBPSI give about the admitted patients?

32m | TBS Today
What is discussed at the Chief Advisor's meeting?

What is discussed at the Chief Advisor's meeting?

47m | TBS Today
Two advisors and press secretary were blocked at Milestone for 8 hours

Two advisors and press secretary were blocked at Milestone for 8 hours

57m | TBS Today
Chief advisor's meeting with 4 parties; what was discussed?

Chief advisor's meeting with 4 parties; what was discussed?

1h | TBS Today
EMAIL US
contact@tbsnews.net
FOLLOW US
WHATSAPP
+880 1847416158
The Business Standard
  • About Us
  • Contact us
  • Sitemap
  • Advertisement
  • Privacy Policy
  • Comment Policy
Copyright © 2025
The Business Standard All rights reserved
Technical Partner: RSI Lab

Contact Us

The Business Standard

Main Office -4/A, Eskaton Garden, Dhaka- 1000

Phone: +8801847 416158 - 59

Send Opinion articles to - oped.tbs@gmail.com

For advertisement- sales@tbsnews.net