Railway’s 8,000 temporary workers lose job despite manpower shortage | The Business Standard
Skip to main content
  • Epaper
  • Economy
    • Aviation
    • Banking
    • Bazaar
    • Budget
    • Industry
    • NBR
    • RMG
    • Corporates
  • Stocks
  • Analysis
  • 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
    • 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

Thursday
May 29, 2025

Sign In
Subscribe
  • Epaper
  • Economy
    • Aviation
    • Banking
    • Bazaar
    • Budget
    • Industry
    • NBR
    • RMG
    • Corporates
  • Stocks
  • Analysis
  • 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
    • Epaper
    • GOVT. Ad
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
THURSDAY, MAY 29, 2025
Railway’s 8,000 temporary workers lose job despite manpower shortage

Bangladesh

Jobaer Chowdhury
10 July, 2023, 11:10 am
Last modified: 10 July, 2023, 11:13 am

Related News

  • Eid-ul-Adha: Sale of advance train tickets for 4 June underway
  • Railway Police arrest fake currency dealer, recover fake notes
  • Railway urges not to setup cattle markets near tracks without prior approval
  • Advance train ticket sales for Eid-ul-Adha to begin on May 21
  • Railway temporary workers call off work abstention

Railway’s 8,000 temporary workers lose job despite manpower shortage

The railway is in the process of outsourcing instead of regularising TLR employees although 22,000 posts remain vacant

Jobaer Chowdhury
10 July, 2023, 11:10 am
Last modified: 10 July, 2023, 11:13 am
Photo: Collected
Photo: Collected

Some 8,000 temporary workers of Bangladesh Railway lost their jobs this July despite an acute manpower shortage in the state-run rail transport agency, citing that there is no allocation for them in the budget of FY24.

The railway currently has about 25,000 employees against approval for the recruitment of 47,637 manpower. That means about 22,000 posts remain vacant in the state agency. 

Due to manpower shortage, the railway has been running its operation for a long time with temporary recruitment of fifth class employees on a Temporary Labor Recruitment (TLR) (no work, no wage) basis.

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

According to Railway data, more than 8,000 temporary workers have been working in various positions including Gatekeeper, P-Man, Wayman, and Khalasi for a long time. Their wages on a daily basis range from Tk500-575.

Ignoring the High Court orders on multiple writ petitions to regularise jobs of 1,000 TLR employees, Bangladesh Railway is going to appoint temporary workers by outsourcing instead of regularising long-term temporary employees. 

Temporary employees who have been working for 3 to 10 years in the railway become angry about this. 

Leaders of these temporary workers said the railway is not regulating these temporary workers even after working continuously for long. Rather it issued a circular for fresh recruitment in the post.

Due to the gatekeeper crisis, around 1,800 temporary gatekeepers were recruited in the two regions in 2016 under a quality improvement project. Currently, 1,505 of them are working. 

On 10 May, the railway issued a circular for the recruitment of Project Recruited Gatekeepers/Gatemen to the permanent vacant posts under the revenue sector. It says project workers who have completed 2 years continuously are eligible for applying for the posts. 

However, the railway authorities say the non-cadre recruitment policy of the Bangladesh Railway in 2020 does not allow the workers appointed under projects to be regularised in the revenue sector. 

The Railway Recruitment Rules-2020 envisage outsourcing (contractual) for temporary workers' recruitment. Under the outsourcing method, workers will be employed through contractors so that later they cannot demand job regularisation. 

Central Committee President of Bangladesh Railway TLR (Temporary) Oikya Forum Mohammad Hossain said, "Thousands of workers are passing their days amid great misery as most of the TLR workers are out of work from this July. Authorities say contractors will be requested to keep TLR workers in their workers' list." 

"We have been agitating for a long time to regularise the temporary employees in the revenue sector in compliance with the High Court orders.  But railways are depriving temporary workers day after day by disobeying the court orders," he added. 

He demanded gradual regularisation of the project workers, after regularising the TLR employees in the revenue sector. 

Eastern Railway General Manager (GM) Md Jahangir Hossain said, "The issue of regularisation of temporary railway workers is being processed as per the court's orders. A number of committees have also been formed to settle the issue. Through the new circular, some 4th class workers will be appointed on an urgent basis. There is no connection with the regularisation of TLR workers."

Organisations like Railways require skilled workers for workshops, mechanical, signal electrical, transportation, gatekeeping, porter, and operational management. If skilled manpower is not available through outsourcing, the entire railway sector may face a huge disruption in its operation.

Expressing his apprehension in this regard, the Director General of Bangladesh Railways wrote to the Railway Secretary on 13 June last year.

Regarding the matter, Eastern Railway GM Md Jahangir Hossain and Western Region GM Asim Kumar Talukder told The Business Standard, "There is no allocation for TLRs in the budget. Tenders for outsourcing will be floated after receiving approval from the finance ministry.  Meanwhile, the authorities were asked to continue the jobs of only those who need to keep BR operational.

Top News

Bangladesh Railway / job loss / bangladdesh

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

  • How termination of USDA-funded trade facilitation project will affect Bangladesh
    How termination of USDA-funded trade facilitation project will affect Bangladesh
  • File photo of Bangladesh Secretariat. Photo: Collected
    Visitors banned from entering Secretariat on Mondays and Thursdays
  • File photo of BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir. Photo: Collected
    Asked for roadmap, govt didn’t give in 10 months, now 'December it is': Mirza Fakhrul

MOST VIEWED

  • Google Pay. Photo: Collected
    Google Pay likely coming to Bangladesh soon
  • Graphics: TBS
    Suspicious banking activities surge by 56% since July: Cenbank
  • Representational image of cable car/Freepik
    Cable car to be installed from Himchari to Reju Khal in Marine Drive Road
  • Illustration: TBS
    Bangladesh sees highest-ever per capita income of $2,820 in FY25, BBS provisional data shows
  • IFIC Bank receives Tk6,000 cr in new deposits in six months
    IFIC Bank receives Tk6,000 cr in new deposits in six months
  • Abdul Awal Mintoo, chairman of National Bank Limited. Sketch: TBS
    'Regulatory support must for National Bank to restore depositors' confidence'

Related News

  • Eid-ul-Adha: Sale of advance train tickets for 4 June underway
  • Railway Police arrest fake currency dealer, recover fake notes
  • Railway urges not to setup cattle markets near tracks without prior approval
  • Advance train ticket sales for Eid-ul-Adha to begin on May 21
  • Railway temporary workers call off work abstention

Features

In recent years, the Gor-e-Shaheed Eidgah has emerged as a strong contender for the crown of the biggest Eid congregation in the country, having hosted 600,000 worshippers in 2017. Photo: TBS

Gor-e-Shaheed Boro Maath: The heart of Dinajpur

2d | Panorama
The Hili Land Port, officially opened in 1997 but with trade roots stretching back to before Partition, has grown into a cornerstone of bilateral commerce.

Dhaka-Delhi tensions ripple across Hili’s markets and livelihoods

3d | Panorama
Photo: Collected

Desk goals: Affordable ways to elevate your study setup

3d | Brands
Built on a diamond-type frame, the Hornet 2.0 is agile but grounded. PHOTO: Asif Chowdhury

Honda Hornet 2.0: Same spirit, upgraded sting

3d | Wheels

More Videos from TBS

The fight between two brothers; Adidas vs Puma

The fight between two brothers; Adidas vs Puma

1h | Others
Trump is again keen to make Canada the 51st state

Trump is again keen to make Canada the 51st state

3h | Others
Trump's tariff strategy and Europe's investment politics, violence or negotiation?

Trump's tariff strategy and Europe's investment politics, violence or negotiation?

4h | Others
Rumours surrounding the Club World Cup: Which club will Ronaldo join?

Rumours surrounding the Club World Cup: Which club will Ronaldo join?

4h | Others
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