Railway running staff enforce strike, shut train movement all over the country

The running staff of Bangladesh railway have shut down the train movement all over the country demanding the withdrawal of the decision to exclude the mileage allowances from pension.

The train movement has been stopped by the loco masters since Wednesday morning.

The strike has created a stagnant situation all over the country. Hundreds of passengers have been waiting at the Kamalapur Railway Station since early morning. The common people and the daily commuters are enduring immense sufferings due to the sudden enforcement of the strike.

The term running staff refers to the loco masters, assistant loco masters, guards and travelling ticket examiners.

The running staff of Bangladesh Railway called on the strike demanding the retention of allowances and pension facilities under the old law. The government cut off 75 per cent of the post retirement running allowances for the running staff last year.

They staged some demonstrations in protest of this decision for some days. After that, they stopped the train movement all over the country on Wednesday all on a sudden.

The running staff used to get additional allowances (mileage) for overtime duties. According to the old law, if a running staff works more than eight hours or drives more than 100 miles, he or she will get additional allowances equivalent to one day's salary which is called the mileage. Some 75 per cent of this allowance would be added to the pension.

However, the finance ministry recently declared to suspend the mileage facility for the running staff.

Meanwhile, railway minister Nurul Islam has gone to Kamalapur railway station along with the top officials of the ministry, including the secretary, to find a resolution in this regard.