Railway staff call off protest after ‘assurance of payment in a week’

Temporary railway staff have called off plans to surround the Rail Bhaban after authorities promised to pay off their outstanding salaries and settle other demands over the next week.

The decision was reached at a meeting involving the staff, Railway Secretary Md Fahimul Islam and Bangladesh Railway Director General Md Afzal Hossain on Monday.

“We’ll pay off their unpaid salaries by next Sunday. They [railway staff] have been assured that the other matters will be looked into. They then withdrew the programme,” said Rezaul Karim, public relations officer at the railway ministry.

Around 10:45am on Monday, several hundred temporary railway workers began demonstrating over unpaid salaries in front of the main gate of the Rail Bhaban on Abdul Gani Road, blocking the street in the process.

Earlier in the morning, they also protested at Kamalapur Railway Station and in front of the Railway Administration Building.

“TLR workers have not been paid for five months. It’s become very difficult to provide for our families like this,” said Mohammad Shawon, a protesting railway worker representing the central committee of temporary railway staff.

“Despite repeated meetings with the railway administration, we weren't able to reach a solution. That’s why we announced plans to surround the Rail Bhaban and railway ministry.”

Around 11am, Mohammad Hossain, a central advisor of TLR workers’ organisations, pointed out that Bangladesh Railway had previously made similar promises while providing timeframes.

“But no payment was made,” he added.

He said that, along with the payment of outstanding salaries, the group sought the reinstatement of 109 temporary workers who had been dismissed in Syedpur.

“And the railway ministry has to regularise the jobs of those who’ve been working for the railway for a long time.”

Responding to a call from the ministry, Shawon and three other protesters travelled to the Rail Bhaban around 11:30pm.

The railway staff representatives then called off the programme around 12:30pm.