Metro rail services in Dhaka have resumed normal operations after employees of Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) called off a work stoppage that began on Monday. The strike was sparked by allegations of verbal and physical abuse by MRT police officers.
The protest was triggered by an incident in which DMTCL staff members claimed they were harassed by MRT police for not using passes. According to an anonymous DMTCL employee, MRT police allegedly stopped colleagues for not using passes and subjected them to physical assault.
“We decided to stop work in protest, but we have now ended the strike after receiving assurances from senior management that proper action will be taken against those responsible,” the employee told UNB.
Despite the strike, metro services continued operating, though some passengers were able to travel without purchasing tickets, as employees refrained from performing ticketing duties. Mohammad Sabbir Alam, a commuter, shared his experience: “I found out about the work stoppage when I boarded the metro at Mirpur 11. A staff member informed me that the trains were still running, so I didn’t need to buy a ticket. I traveled to Motijheel without punching my pass.”
DMTCL Managing Director Faruque Ahmed confirmed that metro operations had returned to normal, with only minor technical issues, which have since been resolved. “I visited every station this morning, and everything is running smoothly,” he said.
The employees had previously issued a statement outlining six key demands in response to the alleged incident, including the permanent dismissal of the officer involved, disciplinary action against other implicated officers, the formation of a dedicated security force, and improved medical coverage for the injured staff member.
While the protest has ended, commuters remain curious to see how DMTCL will address these demands moving forward.
