Permanent employees of Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) have set a deadline for February 20 to finalize job regulations, warning that metro rail services will be suspended from February 21 if their demand is not met.
In a press release issued Monday, they said that without a comprehensive job policy, metro rail operations would be at risk, and DMTCL authorities would be responsible for any disruption affecting Dhaka commuters.
The employees said that Road Transport Adviser Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan had directed the formulation of complete job regulations on September 12 last year. Following this, DMTCL's 60th board meeting decided to finalize the rules within 60 days and send them to the Road Transport Division.
However, they alleged even after five months, the regulations remain incomplete due to "mysterious reasons." The delay has already led to the resignation of over 200 locally and internationally trained-employees, raising concerns about metro rail operations and maintenance.
Following strong demands from employees on February 13, DMTCL officials discussed the draft job regulations and assured that revisions would be made before presenting them at a board meeting for final approval.
Commenting on the matter Tuesday morning, DMTCL Managing Director Mohammad Abdur Rouf said: “The process of implementing job regulations has begun and is in its final stages. A committee has been formed, and once they review it, the regulations will be sent to the board. These rules should have been finalized earlier, and the delay is indeed a failure. However, they are unlikely to be ready within the next three days. We are in discussions with the employees.”
