Dhaka, Mar 17 (V7N) – Metro rail workers who had gone on a three-hour strike protesting an assault on staffers by MRT police officers and presenting six conditions resumed work on Monday afternoon, but passengers continued to suffer despite that.
When this correspondent visited the Secretariat, Karwan Bazar, and Farmgate Metro Stations, long lines of passengers were observed waiting to buy tickets at the single-journey ticket sales counters. Additionally, there were long queues to recharge MRT pass cards.
One of the regular metro commuters said: "The metro rail is currently a very important transportation system. But its current situation has become like a local bus. Everyone is doing whatever they want. It cannot continue like this."
The commuter added: " Although the metro rail staff continues to operate the trains, the lower gates have been closed since the morning, the ticket counters were shut, and even the punch machines were inactive. As a result, many passengers have had to turn back. Many still do not know if everything has returned to normal."
Bank official Shahadat Hossain, another commuter, said: "Those of us who commute from Mirpur to Karwan Bazar every day understand how easy the metro is. Today, when I went to Mirpur 10 station, I saw that the punch machines were closed."
He added: "The counters were also closed. Many passengers were returning. Then I was forced to come to Karwan Bazar with CNG. In fact, ordinary people like us are hostages to the metro rail workers and directors. Even if people change, there is no change in behavior."
Nurunnahar Begum, who came to Farmgate station, made the same complaint. She said: "When I arrived at around 8am, the lower gate was closed. I got on the bus. Later, when I reached Shahbagh, I heard the sound of a train. However, I had been standing for almost an hour."
Earlier, at 10am, the supply of tickets and MRT passes started at Mirpur and Pallabi stations, following assurances from the authorities. All stations were operational after 10am. It took three hours for things to return to normal.
Passengers travelled on the metro without fares
Meanwhile, despite the gates being closed at many stations due to the strike by metro rail workers, passenger movement was kept active at various stations. However, fares (single tickets and card punches) were not collected.
As a result, many passengers boarded the metro on Monday without paying fares. Beneficiaries were seen posting about this on social media Facebook.
In this regard, a person named Naeem Hossain posted on his Facebook: "No card punching is required at Mirpur-10 station."
Abdur Rajjak Khan wrote in his Facebook post demanding punishment for those responsible writing: "Trains have been running since morning, but no tickets are required, how strange!! This is the time when there are the most passengers."
He also wrote: "The peak hour of income is office hours. One can only imagine how much financial loss this will cause. Arrangements should be made to punish those responsible as soon as possible, so that no one dares to damage state property."
Meanwhile, many passengers who travelled on the metro without cards and without punching the card in the machine were facing fines.
Md Shahin, a passenger who came to Farmgate, said: "I left Farmgate and Secretariat stations without punching any card in the morning. But now I am standing to get out."
Another passenger, Saddam, said: "I came to Farmgate from Mirpur in the morning without punching my card. Now I am worried about whether I will have to pay a fine or not."
"Those who got on without card punches are being taken out separately," said Rabbi, a DMTCL employee at the Farmgate station.
Formation of an investigation committee
An investigation will be conducted into the suspension of passenger services for three hours without concern of the Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) metro managing director.
Metrorail Managing Director Faruk Ahmed confirmed the matter to a media outlet.
He said: "The issue of blockades and strikes that hold passengers hostage will be looked into seriously."
He also said the officials have withdrawn the strike. A three-member committee has been formed by the ministry to investigate the incident of physical assault on four workers. The investigation will also look into the issue of stopping passenger services on the metro rail.
It is learned that Metrorail workers are complaining that four employees of Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited were verbally and physically assaulted by MRT police members at around 5:15pm on Sunday.
In this regard, a press release was sent out at midnight on Sunday under the banner of "Officers and Employees of Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited" with a six-point demand, calling for a strike.
Later, passenger services at the metro station were suspended from Monday morning.
Passenger services were restored after about three hours from at 10am.
In this incident Sub-Inspector (SI) Mohammad Masud, who was assigned to the Secretariat Metro Rail Station, has been suspended from his position due to misbehavior, negligence of duties, and unprofessional conduct.
END/MSS/AJ
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