Metro Rail Operations Continue Despite DMTC Staff Strike Over Police Assault

A strike by Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTC) staff is ongoing following the alleged verbal and physical assault of four employees by MRT police. Despite the strike, metro rail operations remain unaffected.

The strike began on Monday morning (March 17) as DMTC workers demanded justice for the incident. Reports from various metro stations indicate that DMTC employees are actively participating in the strike, leading to passengers traveling without tickets.

The strike was announced in a statement late Sunday night (March 17), detailing the incident that occurred on March 16 at around 5:15 PM. According to DMTC, two women, not in uniform and without proper identification, attempted to exit the paid zone using the swing gate instead of the designated PG gate. When a Customer Relations Assistant (CRA) questioned them, MRT police intervened, escalating the situation. Shortly after, two APBN officers similarly used the swing gate without securing it, leading to another altercation.

The confrontation intensified when additional police officers arrived at the station. One officer allegedly struck a CRA with a rifle on the shoulder, while another grabbed a Ticketing and Monitoring Officer (TMO) by the collar, forcibly taking him to the MRT police box, where he was reportedly beaten and had a gun pointed at him. Onlookers, including station staff and passengers, intervened, rescuing the TMO.

Following the assault, the injured CRA was admitted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital for immediate treatment, while the affected TMO lost consciousness on his way home after providing a statement.

DMTC staff have presented six demands:

1. The immediate and permanent dismissal of the responsible police officer (SI Masud) within one working day, along with disciplinary action against all involved officers, including a public apology.

2. Establishment of an armed security force exclusively for metro rail, staff, and passenger safety.

3. Immediate dissolution of MRT police.

4. Assurance of full security for station staff, including CRAs, TMOs, and station controllers.

5. Strict enforcement of entry restrictions to the paid zone, allowing only authorized personnel with valid IDs.

6. Full medical coverage for injured employees.

DMTC employees have vowed to continue the strike until their demands are met, warning of further escalated protests if necessary.