Metro rail hits another bump

Metro rail operations were suspended on the Agargaon to Shahbagh section last night after a technical issue was reported around 9:10pm.

"Metro rail operations remained suspended following a jerk on the Bijoy Sarani-Farmgate part," Ahsan Ullah Sharifi, deputy director (public relations) of Dhaka Mass Rapid Transit Line-6, told The Daily Star at 9:45pm without providing further details.

According to a metro rail official involved in the operation, the incident prompted the authorities to halt services between Agargaon and Shahbagh.

However, metro services on the Uttara-Agargaon portion continued uninterrupted, said the official, wishing anonymity.

Hours before yesterday's incident, the metro rail authorities issued a notice reassuring passengers about the safety of its operations. In a statement, Dhaka Mass Transit Company Ltd (DMTCL), the implementing and operating agency of the metro rail project, confirmed that the service was operating in full compliance with all safety regulations.

 "Therefore, passengers are kindly requested not to be concerned about safety," reads the statement signed by AKM Khairul Alam, director (administration) of DMTCL.

This disruption follows a tragic incident on Sunday, when a bearing pad fell from a metro rail pillar in the Farmgate area, killing a pedestrian and injuring two others.