'DMTCL workers' threaten metro rail shutdown from Feb 21 over employment policy

They are demanding the formulation of comprehensive service rules and regulations within the next three days

Permanent officials and employees of the Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited, or DMTCL, have warned they will bring metro rail services to a halt from Feb 21 if a comprehensive employment policy is not formulated by the authorities.

The announcement was made in a press release on Monday claiming to be from a group of employees recruited through the DMTC's direct open recruitment process.

The statement said that on Feb 13, the permanent workers issued a demand for these service regulations. Higher authorities at the DMTCL then discussed a draft of the rules in detail until Monday and assured that they would amend them and formulate the final version through a board meeting soon.

The press release noted that, as per the decision of the 60th board meeting of DMTCL, the rules were to be formulated within 60 days and sent to the Road Transport and Highways Department. Despite five months having passed, the service rules have yet to be finalised.

The statement claims that “more than 200 skilled officials and employees” trained in Bangladesh and abroad have resigned from their jobs, raising concerns that the operation and maintenance of the metro rail will be threatened.

As such, the group says that if the service rules are not finalised within the next three working days -- that is, by Feb 20 -- metro rail service will be closed from Feb 21.

If the residents of Dhaka are deprived of metro rail service at the time, it will be the fault of the DMTCL authorities, the statement said.

DMTCL Managing Director Mohammad Abdur Rouf told bdnews24.com on Tuesday morning the issue is being worked on and it will be resolved soon.

“The process to introduce service rules has started. They are on the way to being finalised. A committee has been formed. After they look into it, it will go to the board.”

“The service rules needed to be introduced, but it hasn’t happened yet. It is a failure. It might not happen in the next three days. We are talking to them. There is a process, and it will take as long as it takes to finish. Service rules will be put in place.”