Pabna Jan 20 (V7N) - Railway running staff employees staged protests at Ishwardi Railway Junction Station on Monday (January 20) to demand payment of their mileage allowances as per regulations. The demonstrations, which included rallies, leaflets, and protests in front of two intercity trains, have raised concerns about potential service disruptions.

The protesters warned that if their demands are not met by midnight on January 27, they would go on an indefinite strike starting the morning of January 28, potentially causing widespread schedule disruptions and operational issues in train services.

At 10:45 AM, as the Rajshahi-bound Kapotaksha Express and Chilahati-bound Rupsha Express trains arrived at Ishwardi Railway Station, the running staff briefly stood on the tracks to block the trains. After a brief demonstration, the protesters cleared the tracks, allowing the trains to continue their journey.

Following the protest, a rally was held on platform two, attended by Western Railway staff, including train directors, mobile ticket examiners, drivers, and assistant drivers. The event was chaired by Mostafizur Rahman, Vice-President of the Railway Running Staff and Workers Union Central Committee, and moderated by Shahid Hossain, Office Secretary of the Ishwardi Branch.

Speakers included:

Afzal Hossain, Secretary of the Railway Guards Council Central Committee

Rabiul Islam, Joint Secretary of the Running Staff and Workers Union Central Committee

Masud Rana Nayan, President of the Railway Sramik Dal Ishwardi Branch

Chobi Mondal, Secretary of the Ishwardi Sramik Dal

Key Demands and Issues

Mileage Allowance and Pension Benefits:

Running staff have historically received mileage as part of their salary, calculated based on kilometers traveled, and pension benefits that include 75% of their running allowance.

The Ministry of Finance's letter dated November 3, 2021, canceled these benefits for running staff recruited after January 2022.

Running staff reportedly work 15–18 hours a day instead of the standard 8 hours, earning additional compensation referred to as mileage.

Protesters demanded the withdrawal of discriminatory clauses in the appointment letters of new recruits, ensuring equal benefits for all.

Afzal Hossain emphasized, “Running staff recruited in 2022 cannot survive on a daily wage of 300 taka. It is the administration’s constitutional responsibility to ensure mileage and pension benefits.”

Rabiul Islam added, “Mileage is not an extra benefit but part of the running staff's salary. If our demands are ignored, we will begin a nationwide indefinite strike from January 28.”

According to Pakshi Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) Shah Sufi Nur Mohammad, the Western Railway region oversees 108 train operations daily, including 54 intercity trains, 35 mail trains, and 19 local trains. A strike could halt all operations, leading to severe disruptions and passenger inconvenience.

DRM Nur Mohammad assured that senior officials have been informed of the situation. However, resolution efforts remain unclear.

As the January 27 deadline approaches, tensions are rising, and a railway strike looms, threatening to paralyze train services across the Western Region.

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