Pedestrian killed as metro rail bearing pad falls in Farmgate, train operations halted

A pedestrian was killed after being hit by a bearing pad that fell from the Dhaka metro rail line in Farmgate yesterday.

The incident occurred around 12:30pm, prompting authorities to suspend metro operations.

Confirming the incident, Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) Managing Director Faruque Ahmed said a bearing from the joint between the viaduct and pillar came loose and fell, killing one person on the spot.

“Metro train service has been temporarily suspended. I’m on my way to the scene and will be able to share more details after an inspection,” he said.

Road Transport and Bridges Adviser Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan, who visited the site soon after the incident, said a probe committee has been formed to investigate the cause.

The committee comprises members from the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), Military Institute of Science and Technology (MIST), DMTCL, and the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges.

The adviser said the victim’s family will receive Tk 5 lakh as compensation, and an eligible family member will be offered a job at DMTCL.

He said the committee will determine whether the accident occurred due to a technical fault or sabotage.

Tejgaon Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md Mobarak Hossain said the victim, identified as Abul Kalam, 35, of Shariatpur, was walking along the footpath in front of the Krishibid Institution beneath the Farmgate metro station when the pad fell from above.

This time, the bearing pad fell from pier no. 433. In 2024, a similar incident occurred when a pad fell from pier no. 430.

Mohammad Abdul Wahab, project director of MRT-5, stated that recommendations for corrective measures had been made following previous incidents, but he was unsure how many had been implemented. He added the project is still under the defect liability period.

DMTCL Operations official Nasir Uddin said metro rail services on the Agargaon–Motijheel route will resume today.

Bearing pads are made of a special kind of rubber and are used at the connecting points of pillars and viaducts to absorb vibration and maintain structural stability in elevated rail systems.

Witnesses said a tea stall on the footpath was also damaged by the falling object.

“At first we thought a tyre had burst,” said witness Atiqur Rahman. “Then we saw a man lying on the road. A heavy black object had hit his head. He died on the spot.”

Sub-Inspector Nazrul Islam of Tejgaon Police said the body was recovered and legal formalities were under way.

Earlier, on September 18, one of four springs in the viaduct from Farmgate to Bijoy Sarani had separated, sparking safety concerns.