Metro rail services in Dhaka came to a standstill on Friday as officers and staff of Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTC) launched an indefinite strike, demanding the formulation and publication of company’s independent service rules.
The strike has caused major inconvenience for commuters across the city.
The protest began at 3pm outside the DMTC headquarters in Diabari, Uttara, where employees staged a sit-in and blocked access to the Managing Director’s office.
According to eyewitnesses, demonstrators locked all metro stations, forcing passengers to seek alternative transport.
The strike was officially announced in a press release on Wednesday, stating that employees would suspend all passenger services and hold daily peaceful sit-ins outside the DMTC headquarters until their demands are met.
The employees highlighted that although DMTC was established in 2013, no separate service regulations have been finalised for over 900 officers and staff even after 12 years.
Since the commencement of commercial operations on 28 December 2022, staff recruited through open selection have been working round the clock, yet remain deprived of basic benefits such as leave, CPF, gratuity, shift allowances, overtime, and group insurance.
The press release noted that, following the advisory committee’s instructions on 12 September 2024, service rules were supposed to be finalised within 60 working days, but this was not implemented.
When employees protested on 13 February 2025, the authority assured completion by 20 March, yet the promise remained unfulfilled. Nine months of inaction have fueled growing frustration among the staff, culminating in Friday’s strike.
Commuters are now facing severe disruption as metro rail services remain suspended, with passengers forced to rely on alternative, often crowded, transport options.
