Metro rail resumes operation on Uttara–Agargaon route after Farmgate accident

Following the tragic death of a young man after a bearing pad fell from a metro rail pillar in Farmgate, metro train operations were suspended from around 12:30 pm today, Sunday causing immense suffering for passengers.

Road transport adviser Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan told Prothom Alo around 3:00 pm at Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital that metro services between Agargaon and Uttara have resumed.

However, it will take some more time to restart operations on the remaining section up to Motijheel, as cranes need to be brought in and safety checks conducted after repairs to prevent further accidents, he added.

The body of the deceased, Abul Kalam, has been taken to Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital.

At 2:10 pm, the metro rail operating authority Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) announced on its Facebook page that metro services had been temporarily suspended due to a technical fault.

The authorities expressed regret over the incident and urged passengers to remain patient. A DMTCL source said that the repair work is underway.

During a similar incident when a bearing pad fell at Farmgate on 18 September 2024, metro rail operations between Agargaon and Motijheel remained suspended for 11 hours.

An official involved in metro rail operations, speaking on condition of anonymity said it took 11 hours to restore full service last time. It’s difficult to estimate how long it would take this time.

Rubber-made bearing pads, each weighing around 140 to 150 kilograms, are attached to the pillars supporting the elevated metro track. Without these pads, there is a risk of the viaduct sagging or shifting, which is why the service has been suspended.

Metro rail began operations in Bangladesh for the first time on 28 December 2022, running between Uttara and Motijheel stations.

According to DMTCL, around 157.5 million passengers have travelled on the metro since its inauguration up to June this year, making it one of the capital’s most popular modes of transport.

After today’s suspension, passengers were seen leaving various metro stations disappointed. At Karwan Bazar station, all four entry gates were closed, with Ansar and police personnel standing guard on the inside.

About 50 passengers were seen gathered at the entrance near the BSEC Building in Karwan Bazar, hoping for updates, but the security personnel could not provide a definite answer on when the services would resume.

One of the passengers, Torab Hasan, told Prothom Alo, “I came to the Karwan Bazar metro station to go to Motijheel, but found the gate closed. I heard there has been an accident. I asked the police and Ansar members when it would reopen, but no one could give any update on that.”

One of the Ansar members on duty at the station, Jewel Ahmed was seen telling the crowd of passengers, “The metro won’t run today. Please don’t wait here.” Jewel later told Prothom Alo, “We closed the gates around 12:30 pm after the accident in Farmgate. We’ll reopen only when we receive instructions from the authorities.”