Dhaka metro rail workers observed their pre-announced work abstention programme on Friday, effectively suspending the services for the day, even as the authorities assured them their demands are set to be implemented this month.
Passengers suffered immensely due to the strike on Friday.
Metro rail authorities have said the demands over dedicated job regulations would be tabled at its board meeting on 18 December, and most likely approved. However, the workers wanted implemented by Thursday, as previously “assured by the authorities.”
Jahidul Islam, public relations officer at Dhaka Mass Transit Company Ltd (DMTCL), told reporters that the metro rail operating company asked workers on Thursday night to join duties as usual the next day as their demands were soon to be realised.
They have evidently violated the order.
On Friday, the authorities again asked the workers to rejoin duties on Saturday, Jahidul said. The government would decide on continued disruptions, he said.
On Thursday, the government stated any unauthorised road movement would be met with an iron hand to smooth arrangement of general elections in February. The government has also warned against movement that causes public sufferings.
It remains unclear if the warning applies to the metro rail chaos.
On Thursday, a large section of the workers even agreed to honour the assurance on their demand during a protest staged at metro rail head office in Uttara’s Diabari. Still some remained unfazed.
At night the protesters issued a press release saying they would not wait till 18 December for the DMTCL board meeting and, unless the 11 December deadline is met, would launch an indefinite strike from Friday.
On Friday morning, metro rail officials, including the managing director, was seen trying to pacify the workers at Diabari. They went through the work boycott anyway.
LND/SAE
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