Metro rail service from Agargaon to Motijheel suspended for now

Dhaka Metro Rail service will not resume on the section from Agargaon to Motijheel on Sunday due to the collapse of a bearing pad that caused the death of a pedestrian, according to DMTCL Managing Director Faruque Ahmed told reporters at Dhaka's Farmgate.

Speaking to reporters at the site of the accident on Sunday, he said: "It cannot be repaired unless the equipment arrives. Under the circumstances, it is not possible to resume the metro rail service along this section for now. The metro rail will run from Agargaon to Diabari for the moment. That section will resume service within the next two to three hours."

At 2pm, the Facebook page of Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited said: “The metro rail service is temporarily suspended due to technical/mechanical faults. The metro rail authorities sincerely apologise for the temporary inconvenience caused to the esteemed passengers. Passengers are requested to remain patient and cooperate due to this unexpected situation.”

Road Transport and Bridges Advisor Fouzul Kabir Khan also visited the site of the accident.

He said, “This section cannot be reopened right now. It’s risky. If another accident happens, who will take responsibility?”

Fouzul added that a five-member committee headed by Bridges Division Secretary Mohammad Abdur Rouf had been formed to investigate the accident.

“This committee has been asked to submit its report within the next two weeks. In addition, they will look at the reports of the committees that were formed after previous such incidents. If there is any lapse, they will also identify it.”

The metro rail will take on the responsibility of the dead pedestrian’s family, initially paying them a compensation of Tk 500,000, according to Fouzul.

“Later, if an able-bodied member in the family of the victim applies, they will be given a job in the metro rail. I will visit the injured in the hospital a little later and take necessary measures for their treatment.”