The officers and employees of the metro rail had earlier announced an indefinite strike from Friday, following a previously issued ultimatum over the non-finalisation and publication of a comprehensive service rule.
The announcement triggered concerns that all metro rail passenger services could come to a halt.
However, Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL), the operator of the metro rail, has assured that train operations remain normal.
On Thursday night, DMTCL posted from its verified Facebook page, stating: “For the information of our esteemed passengers, metro rail will operate according to its scheduled timetable.”
The officers and employees who had called the strike said that even 12 years after DMTCL’s establishment in 2013, no distinct service rule has been finalised for more than 900 officers and employees.
Since the commencement of commercial operations on December 28, 2022, these staff members—recruited through open competition—have worked round the clock but claim they have been deprived of basic benefits, including leave, CPF, gratuity, shift allowance or overtime, and group insurance.
According to officials, an advisory committee had instructed that the service rule be finalised within 60 working days from September 12, 2024. The directive was not implemented. When employees protested on February 13, 2025, the authorities assured them that the rule would be finalised by March 20. That commitment also went unfulfilled, deepening frustration among staff for the past nine months.
During a meeting on Wednesday, the Managing Director told employees that although the Board of Directors had agreed on all sections of the service rule, Chapter 11—related to “special provisions”—remained unresolved. This chapter addresses the absorption of metro rail project staff into DMTCL, which employees say contradicts existing Bangladesh laws and Supreme Court judgments.
Employees allege that although the Board is willing to remove the disputed provisions, the continued delay in publishing the service rule is the result of pressure from within the DMTCL administration.
