Angry passengers cause damage at Rajshahi station as train services halt nationwide

Due to a strike by Bangladesh Railway’s running staff, train services have come to a complete halt across the country, leading to chaos at Rajshahi Railway Station. 

Frustrated passengers, upset by the lack of communication, vented their anger by damaging property at the station before eventually collecting refunds for their tickets and leaving.

On Tuesday morning, January 28, from 7 AM to 8 AM, hundreds of passengers who had been waiting for their trains became agitated when no trains departed. 

In their frustration, they began protesting and vandalizing parts of the station. 

According to reports, they smashed chairs and tables in a room used by ticket inspectors (TTE) and broke several chairs in the waiting area. 

However, other rooms remained locked, which prevented further damage. 

The situation was eventually brought under control when army personnel arrived. 

Passengers were refunded for their tickets, and they began leaving the station peacefully.

Rajshahi Railway Station Manager Moyen Uddin spoke to Prothom Alo around 9 AM and said, 

“Passengers who bought tickets from the counter were given refunds from the same place. For those who purchased tickets online, the refunds were processed via mobile banking. The station is now under the watch of army personnel, and the situation is calm.”

He further explained that since midnight on Monday, no trains had departed Rajshahi due to the strike. 

There were six scheduled trains between early morning and 9 AM that were supposed to leave for different destinations, but none of them departed.

The Padma Express, which had started its journey from Dhaka late the previous night, did arrive in Rajshahi early this morning, but no other trains were running.

The strike was initiated by the railway‍‍`s running staff, including guards, train drivers (locomasters), assistant drivers, and ticket inspectors. 

They began their strike at midnight on Monday due to unresolved issues regarding the inclusion of their running allowance with their basic salary for pension and gratuity purposes. 

This has brought train services to a complete standstill nationwide.

Aminul Islam, convener of the Rajshahi Running Staff Unity Council, clarified, 

“As part of the central committee’s decision, train operations in Rajshahi have also been halted. Our protest will continue until our rights are restored. Once the central committee decides to end the strike, train services will resume.”

As of 10 AM, some passengers remained at the station, unwilling to leave and hoping for some resolution to the disruption. Many were simply waiting to see how the situation would unfold.