Another metro rail accident – the second in about a year – has claimed the life of an innocent pedestrian on Sunday, raising fresh questions over negligence by the metro rail authorities and the consulting firms.
At around 12:30pm, a bearing pad from a shock absorber fell from the metro line near Farmgate, killing pedestrian Abul Kalam Azad instantly. Azad, an employee of a private company, leaves behind a son and a daughter.
Experts fear similar incidents could recur in the country’s one of the most expensive transport infrastructures unless the root causes are identified and addressed.
A similar accident occurred in September last year, exposing faults in the metro rail’s construction. A bearing pad also fell off the line then, revealing a lack of proper inspection and maintenance.
“This should not have happened again. But it did — because non-technical people were appointed to investigate after the first incident,” said Professor M Shamsul Hoque, of the Civil Engineering Department at Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET).
He added, “Even with substandard construction, such parts should not come off, as the design includes all necessary safety measures. If they do, it means there was a construction flaw — and yet the consulting firm still approved it.”
“No one can avoid responsibility here,” said Hoque, an urban and infrastructure development expert.
Speaking to TIMES of Bangladesh, he said that, as before, the new inquiry committee again includes non-technical members. “A detailed audit is needed to identify the real causes and prevent recurrence. I doubt such a committee can do that, and so this might happen again.”
The country’s first metro rail — built at a cost of Tk 22,000 crore — involves three Japanese companies in its design and construction, alongside Ital-Thai, three Indian companies, one from the UK, and one Bangladeshi firm serving as contractors and consultants. Overall maintenance responsibility lies with the Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL).
Sunday’s victim was walking along the footpath in front of the Krishibid Institute, beneath the Farmgate metro station, when a bearing pad fell from Pier 433 and struck him, killing him on the spot.
On 18 September 2024, a similar incident occurred near Farmgate when a bearing pad became detached. No one was injured then, but train services were halted for 11 hours. Sunday’s incident took place at almost the same location — this time from Pier 433, just west of Farmgate Station — whereas last year’s occurred at Pier 430. From Motijheel to Uttara, the metro system has 620 pillars, each equipped with four bearing pads.
Following Sunday’s incident, metro train operations were suspended for about four hours. The fatal fall of a bearing pad from such an expensive infrastructure has sparked fear among pedestrians using the roads beneath the metro line.
Although DMTCL formed a committee to investigate last year’s accident, it took no effective action, merely sending letters to the consulting firm and considering its duty done.
Officials at DMTCL said they had repeatedly written to the consulting firm since last year, raising concerns about the quality of the bearing pads, but the firm took no initiative.
When asked about negligence, DMTCL Managing Director Faruque Ahmed said, “The metro rail authority itself did not design the system. The design was made by a Japanese consultant, and construction was also carried out by a Japanese contractor. We are mainly responsible for operation and maintenance.”
An investigation into Sunday’s incident has been launched, with a final report expected within two weeks.
In addition to Nippon Koei of Japan, five other companies are involved as consultants. AKM Nurul Islam, representative of Nippon Koei’s Bangladesh branch, declined to comment without permission from the metro authorities.
Professor Hadiuzzaman, another BUET civil engineering expert, said Sunday’s accident shows that the metro is becoming increasingly risky. “This incident proves there are design flaws in the metro rail system. We need an immediate design audit. Such accidents are likely to increase in the future,” he warned.
The MRT Line-6, running from Uttara to Agargaon and later extended to Motijheel, began operation in December 2022. Around 400,000 people use the metro rail daily.
Since its inception, there have been persistent issues with operation, maintenance, and questions over the competence of those involved. After another fatal accident within a year, those same concerns have now resurfaced.
