Today's metro-rail operations remain uncertain as the operator on Thursday said services would run as usual, even though the striking staff did not withdraw their work stoppage that begins today.
The Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) employees of grades 10 to 16 on Tuesday announced to go on strike on December 12 (today) to press home their demand for approving the service rule.
They said they had been raising the demand since December 3, but the December 9 board meeting did not fulfil it, which was why they declared the work stoppage.
"The managing director has called an emergency board meeting on December 18 and assured us the approval would come on that day. But we do not feel assured," a striking DMTCL employee told The Financial Express over the phone.
He said they had been assured of the approval during the December 9 board meeting, but that did not come.
Meanwhile, DMTCL issued a statement on Thursday after a meeting between the managing director and a group of striking employees, stating that metro rail would be operated on schedule on Friday (today).
Sources say around 35 striking employees kept Managing Director Faruque Ahmed confined till 7pm on Thursday to press home their demand for immediate approval of the service rule.
smunima@yahoo.com