Railways ministry urges running staff to cancel tomorrow's planned strike
The Ministry of Railways has urged the running staff of Bangladesh Railway to cancel their pre-announced strike to be started from tomorrow (28 January).
The running staff, including locomasters, assistant locomasters and sub-locomasters, have decided to go on strike from 28 January demanding pension and gratuity with their mileage allowance.
In a press statement issued today, the ministry said the Bangladesh Railway and the Ministry of Railways are "making the utmost effort to fulfill the demands of the running staff".
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"The demands of the running staff have already been sent from the Ministry of Railways to the Ministry of Finance. Bilateral discussions are also ongoing in this regard," reads the statement.
Considering the suffering of the general public, the ministry urged the running staff to cancel the pre-announced strike and continue normal activities.
The running staff used to get a special overtime allowance, known as mileage allowance, in addition to their basic salary. This system offers 75% more than their pension based on the basic salary. But the Finance Ministry scrapped the mileage facility in a notification in November 2021, creating discontent among railway running staff.
In January 2022, following protests, the Finance Ministry reinstated salaries and allowances but excluded mileage benefits from pensions. The then minister yielded to demands in April 2023 and promised the issuance of a new notification. But the November 2021 notification is not scrapped yet, causing pension issues.
