Bangladesh Railway distributes salaries to its employees in cash payment method despite other government sectors moving to a banking system for salary disbursement.
Thousands of regular, contractual and former staffers across the country get monetary facilities from Bangladesh Railway through the cash payment method.
Most of the employees of Bangladesh Railway who receive their remuneration in cash are in categories between the 13th and 20th pay grade scales.
However, officials between the 13th and 1st pay grade scales get their salaries through banks.
This cash payment method has been in place since the British colonial period. Many employees across the country have to experience delays in receiving their monthly wage payment, which can be attributed to this manual process.
Meanwhile, it is reported that the railway authorities have already started the process of Electronic Fund Transfer (EFT) for disbursement of salaries. A handful of staff have already been brought under the program in a limited capacity.
“We have already introduced an EFT system, but it has been interrupted by the ongoing government holidays,” said MA Bahar, economist of Bangladesh Railway.
“However, the process will continue in full swing as soon as offices reopen,” he added.
Altogether 37,500 former employees under the East Zone and West Zone of Bangladesh Railway get their pensions and allowances manually. Only 3,800 former employees are now under the banking system.
The railway authorities are planning to bring thousands of lower grade employees under the process as well.
Special train service to disburse salary
Recently, a train with a single compartment was used to distribute salaries among railway staffers, shedding light on the whole cash payment method used by the railway authorities in salary disbursement.
Health experts around the world have cautioned that the coronavirus can spread through cash, advising everyone to adopt a cashless transaction method as much as possible.
The special train travelled from Dhaka to Sylhet Railway station on April 18, ignoring the ongoing shutdown of public transport, including the railways, to contain coronavirus.
The train, which was carrying railway personnel along with money meant for salaries and other expenses, was allegedly transporting some passengers as well.
The train halted at all stations between Akhaura railway station and Sylhet railway station to disburse salaries amounting to around Tk2 crore.
“The train brought Tk1.2 crore for staff at Sylhet railway station,” said Khalilur Rahman, station manager of Sylhet railway station.
The Sylhet district administration has written a letter to the railway authorities to take action against 24 people, including the station manager, for allegedly transporting passengers amidst the nationwide lockdown.