Dhaka’s Metro Rail services are set to be completely suspended from Friday, 12 December, at 7:00 am, following a prolonged dispute over unresolved employment regulations. The strike, declared by regular officers and staff of Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL), will include an all-out work stoppage and the suspension of all passenger services, alongside daily peaceful demonstrations in front of the DMTCL headquarters.
Background of the Dispute
Despite its establishment in 2013, DMTCL has yet to finalise a formal service rule for its 900-plus officers and staff. Since the commencement of commercial metro operations on 28 December 2022, employees recruited through open selection have performed round-the-clock duties. However, they allege they remain deprived of fundamental benefits, including annual leave, CPF contributions, gratuity, shift allowance, overtime, and group insurance.
In September 2024, an advisory committee instructed the company to finalise the service rules within 60 working days, a deadline that was repeatedly missed. Subsequent assurances from management in February 2025 promised completion by 20 March, yet no rules have been officially published, fostering mounting frustration among staff over the past nine months.
| Key Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Organisation | Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) |
| Employees Affected | 900+ officers and staff |
| Original Advisory Deadline | 12 September 2024 |
| Assured Publication | 20 March 2025 |
| Strike Commencement | 12 December 2025, 7:00 am |
| Strike Actions | Full work stoppage, all passenger services suspended, daily peaceful demonstration |
| Core Issue | Non-publication of formal service rules and unresolved special provisions |
Stumbling Block: ‘Special Provisions’
On 10 December, during a meeting with employees, the Managing Director acknowledged that the Board of Directors has agreed on all aspects of the service rules, except for one contentious section regarding ‘special provisions’. This chapter addresses the integration of personnel from metro projects into DMTCL, which employees claim conflicts with national laws and Supreme Court rulings.
Staff allege that while the board is willing to remove the controversial clause, pressure from DMTCL management has delayed the publication of the service rules, leaving employees without official recognition of their rights, benefits, or career progression.
Ultimatum and Strike
Having set a deadline of 9 December for the publication of the rules, employees reiterated that failure to do so by 11 December would trigger a full strike from 12 December. They emphasise that any resulting inconvenience to passengers is the responsibility of DMTCL authorities, asserting that the strike is a last resort after years of unfulfilled promises.
Alongside the strike, employees will stage peaceful daily demonstrations outside DMTCL headquarters, pressing for formalised employment regulations to ensure career security, salaries, and lawful benefits. They have made clear that no further assurances will suffice; only the official service rules will resolve the impasse.
The announcement has significant implications for Dhaka’s daily commuters, who number in the hundreds of thousands, signalling a potentially disruptive period for the capital’s mass transit system.