Strike over privatisation plan halts B'desh trains

DHAKA, Oct 11 (Reuters) Train services across Bangladesh came to a halt today after railway operators and employees went on a day-long strike to protest against the government's plan to privatise the state entity, officials said.

''The operations have been suspended after staff boycotted duties from this morning,'' said a senior traffic official of state-owned Bangladesh Railways.

The striking employees also forced most officials out of their offices, crippling the country's second-biggest transportation sector after road transport, he said.

Different trade unions of the railways called for the strike to protest against a recent government decision to privatise the railways in phases to reduce annual losses of around 15 dollar million.

''We will go for bigger action if the government does not change its mind,'' Siraj Bhuiyan, a leader of railway workers' union, said.

He said the losses were incurred mainly due to corruption in management levels.

Bangladesh Railway operates 230 passenger trains and 50 freight trains carrying some 42 million passengers and 3.0 million tonnes of cargo annually.

REUTERS SAM DS1205