Temporary Workers Leave Railway Tracks, Train Operations Resume

Temporary railway workers have vacated the tracks after assurances from the authorities regarding payment of their due wages. As a result, train communication with Dhaka resumed after three hours of disruption.

At around 12:45 pm on Tuesday (December 17), the protestors left the railway tracks. At 1:55 pm, the first train crossed the FDC railway crossing and headed from Tejgaon Station towards Dhaka Station.

The authorities assured that the pending wages would be paid by Thursday (December 19). However, the workers have warned that if the payment is not made by Thursday, they will resume their protest on Sunday (December 22).

Protesting gatekeeper Sabbir Hossain said, "The railway's Dhaka Divisional Manager came here. He assured us that funds for our salaries have been received from the Ministry of Finance. It will take one more day to process and input the salaries online. They promised that we would receive our wages by Thursday at the latest. If we do not receive our salaries by Thursday, we will resume our protest on Sunday morning. On that day, we will not vacate the railway tracks until we receive our wages, regardless of any assurances."

Dhaka Divisional Manager of Railways Mohammad Mohiuddin Arif, who was present at the scene, said that the salaries were delayed due to the lack of allocation and complications with iBAS. Now, we have received the allocation. Only the input process in iBAS remains, which will be completed in two days."

Earlier on Tuesday (December 17) morning, temporary railway workers blocked the Karwan Bazar railway crossing in the capital, disrupting train communication between Dhaka and the rest of the country. The blockade caused delays in the railway schedule.