Dhaka, Bangladesh – In a surprising turn of events, three trains departed from Dhaka even after midnight, leaving Kamalapur Station eerily quiet. This unusual occurrence took place on Tuesday, January 28, 2025, at precisely 12:01 AM, when all official train operations came to a halt due to the ongoing strike by railway running staff across the country.
Despite the commencement of the strike, three trains managed to depart from Dhaka. These trains were originally scheduled to depart before midnight, but their departure was delayed until after 12:00 AM. The trains that left Kamalapur Station after the strike began were the Kuri Gram Express, Chittagong Mail, and Panchagarh Express.
An anonymous law enforcement officer at Kamalapur Station confirmed the departure of these three trains after the strike had commenced. According to the officer, each of these trains left Kamalapur Station one after the other, following their designated schedules. However, the presence of passengers on these trains was notably scarce, indicating the impact of the strike on railway services.
Furthermore, it was noted that there were no trains departing from Kamalapur Station before the strike took effect, with the last three trains experiencing significant delays in their departure times. The running staff have been protesting for an extended period, demanding an increase in their salaries by adding running allowances to their basic pay, as well as pension and other benefits.
The running staff, including train drivers, guards, and ticket checkers, have been the primary participants in the strike. Saidur Rahman, the General Secretary of the Dhaka Metropolitan Branch of the Bangladesh Railway Running Staff and Workers Union, confirmed that the strike officially began at 12:01 AM. He emphasized that no trains would be running after midnight as per the schedule.
Rahman further explained that while the scheduled departure times for the trains were before midnight, the delays resulted in their departure after the strike had commenced. Despite the delays, these trains are still departing from the station. He underscored that the strike would continue until their demands are met.
As the clock strikes 1:55 AM on January 28, 2025, the situation remains tense at Kamalapur Station, with the three departing trains symbolizing the ongoing struggle between the railway running staff and the authorities. The impact of this strike on the everyday commuters and the railway services as a whole is a matter of concern, highlighting the need for swift resolution and effective communication between the parties involved.
