1,700 retd Rly staff not getting pension

The situation arose due to the railway authorities' failure to pay their pension and Eid bonus.

According to official sources, usually retired railway officers and employees in Syedpur get their pension from the railway station's income. The entire amount is collected from sale proceeds of railway tickets and fare of goods wagons. Every month Tk 23 lakh is required for payment of staff pension.

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In recent days the railway earnings decreased due to sharp fall in carrying imported goods from abroad. Last month about Tk 18 lakh was earned by selling inter-city and other train tickets. This is the reason of the railway authorities' inability to pay pension and Eid bonus to retired staff.

For payment of pension and Eid bonus to retired railway officers and employees, an amount of Tk 30 lakh is required. But an additional arrears bill raised the amount to Tk 35 lakh. Only 50 per cent of demand will be met from the available amount.

On contact, Syedpur Railway Station Master Abdul Haqe admitted the fact of fund crisis saying pension holders will be benefited if the higher authorities take special measure for payment of bonus and pension from different sources.