DMTCL employees suspend metro rail service rule protests until August 7
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Regular employees of the Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) have temporarily suspended their ongoing sit-in protest until August 7, citing a commitment to maintaining uninterrupted passenger services. Despite the suspension, staff members warned that they would initiate stricter demonstrations if a comprehensive service rulebook is not implemented by the newly established deadline.
The decision was announced Friday following a demonstration in front of the Metrorail Bhaban in Dhaka’s Diabari. The protest, which lasted from 9:00 a.m. to 1:20 p.m., followed three consecutive days of similar actions held from July 28 to July 30. Throughout the protests, staff ensured that train operations remained unaffected.
DMTCL employees contend that more than 900 permanent staff members have been working without a formal, independent service rulebook since the company’s inception in 2013. Workers argue that the absence of these regulations has created systemic uncertainty regarding job security, promotion, transfers, and administrative decision-making, fueling widespread dissatisfaction and hindering institutional efficiency.
Although an advisor directed the formulation of service rules within 60 working days on September 12, 2024, the mandate remains unfulfilled. While the DMTCL board approved the rules during its 73rd meeting, the documents were subsequently forwarded to the Finance and Public Administration ministries for further review. Seven months have since passed without any visible progress.
Internal sources suggest that the delay stems from complications surrounding the formal absorption of project-based staff into the permanent structure. One official, speaking on condition of anonymity, alleged that certain factions are intentionally stalling the process to prioritize their own interests, leading to discriminatory practices in personnel deployment and management.
Protesters had expected a final resolution during a board meeting on July 30, but the postponement of that session prompted the temporary reprieve. Staff members have now made it clear that if their demands for a formal service framework are not met by the August 7 deadline, they will resume industrial action. They emphasized that the DMTCL authority will bear full responsibility for any resulting disruptions to passenger services.
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