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Published : 12 Dec 2025, 04:33 PM
Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) staff have launched a full-scale work stoppage, bringing metro rail services to a halt.
The protest began on Friday after authorities failed to meet a deadline to formulate an independent employment policy, according to the demonstrators.
Employees have been staging a sit-in outside the DMTCL headquarters since around 3pm. They blocked access to the office of Managing Director Faruque Ahmed, effectively confining him inside, after his attempt to negotiate with the demonstrators failed.
A large number of Army personnel have been seen deployed at the DMTCL office.
“No train operated on Friday as we are on a full-scale strike. The work stoppage will continue until our demands are met,” said Akram Hossain, an engineer at the DMTCL.
On the weekend on Friday, the metro rail service remains open from 3pm to 9:40pm. The service opens at 7am on other days of the week.
The DMTCL does not have an independent employment policy for its 900 staff even 12 years after it emerged in 2013.
The demonstrators alleged they have been deprived of job benefits since their appointment started since the commercial operation of metro rail began on Dec 28, 2022.
An instruction issued on Sept 12 in 2024 to formulate a service rule in 60 days for the DMTCL has not yet been implemented, the demonstrators alleged.
The authorities assured the staff of formulating a service rule by Mar 20 after they started a movement on Feb 13, 2025. But no service rule has been formulated yet.
On Dec 10, the MD said differences of opinion on a section of the draft service rule was preventing its implementation, the protesters said.
