Due to a total work stoppage, all metro rail services in Dhaka remain suspended on Friday. According to the schedule, trains were supposed to depart from Uttara at 3:00pm and from Motijheel at 3:20pm, but not a single train left the stations. As a result, thousands of passengers have been left stranded.
Around 3:45pm, Umer Khan found himself in trouble at the Shewrapara station when he could not find any train. He said that the collapsible gate on the staircase leading to the station was locked, and countless passengers were waiting to get inside.
Crowds on the roads also began to grow. Unable to find a bus, CNG, or app-based motorcycle ride, he finally managed to reach Karwan Bazar by rickshaw at a high fare.
A group of regular officers and employees of DMTC (Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited) announced the start of a total work stoppage from 7:00 a.m. today, alleging that the authorities broke their promise regarding the formulation of an independent service rule.
Earlier on Thursday night, DMTC had said that metro rail operations would continue on Friday as per the regular schedule. However, the protesters did not accept the authorities’ announcement.
DMTC’s Public Relations Officer, Zahidul Islam, said that the process of meeting the protesters’ demands is underway. Although the authorities have assured them, the government is taking the shutdown of passenger services very seriously.
Sources said the protesters gathered in front of the metro rail’s main office in Diabari, Uttara on Thursday to press their demands. The authorities informed them that the proposal for the independent service rule would be placed for approval in a special board meeting on 18 December. Although they were told that progress had been made, some protesters demanded immediate approval.
Later that night, the protesters issued a statement saying that since the service rule had not been approved by 11 December, the work stoppage would continue indefinitely from Friday and no passenger service would be provided. The protesters have been stationed in Diabari since this morning.
Even on a public holiday, high-ranking DMTC officials went to the office to negotiate with the protesters. However, the protesters refused to withdraw their demand for immediate approval of the service rule.
Both the government and DMTC are seriously considering strict measures over the suspension of passenger services, as movements and demonstrations have been banned following the announcement of the election schedule, with warnings of strict action against violators.