Metro rail services in Dhaka are running on schedule after employees of Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) called off their strike, which began on Monday morning in protest against alleged harassment by MRT police.
The strike was triggered by accusations of verbal and physical abuse by some MRT police officers, reports UNB.
According to a DMTCL staff member, who requested anonymity, the incident occurred when MRT police intercepted their colleagues for not using passes and allegedly assaulted them.
"We decided to halt work in response to the harassment, but we have now ended the protest after receiving assurances from senior management that appropriate action will be taken against those responsible," the staff member told UNB.
Uninterrupted services, but ticketing bypassed
Despite the protest, metro services continued operating, though employees refrained from their duties. As a result, some passengers were able to travel without purchasing tickets.
Mohammad Sabbir Alam, a regular commuter, told UNB about his experience: "When I boarded the metro at Mirpur 11 at 7:30 am, I learned about the work stoppage. A metro rail staff member informed me that since the trains were still running, I could travel without buying a ticket. I went from Mirpur 11 to Motijheel without punching my metro pass."
DMTCL management response
DMTCL Managing Director Faruque Ahmed confirmed that metro operations were back to normal. "I visited every metro station this morning, and everything is running smoothly. While there were some technical issues, they have all been resolved," he told UNB.
Employees' demands
On Sunday, employees issued a press release under the banner of "All Officers and Employees of Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited," outlining six key demands in response to the alleged incident. These include:
Permanent dismissal of sub-inspector Masud, who was allegedly involved in the assault. Disciplinary action and a public apology from all implicated officers, including Constable Rejanul and Inspector Ranjit. Formation of a dedicated armed security force for metro rail operations, employees, and passengers.
Meanwhile, they demanded the immediate dissolution of MRT police. Full security for all employees on duty, including CRAs, TMOs, and station controllers.
Additionally, restrictions on unauthorised entry into station paid zones and comprehensive medical coverage for the injured staff member.
While the protest has ended, it remains to be seen how DMTCL management will address the employees' demands, said commuters.
Source: UNB
Bd-pratidin English/FNC
