A decision to offer a 25% fare discount to students on the metro rail and long-distance trains has been quietly revised, despite an earlier announcement by the newly appointed road transport and railways minister.
Railway Minister Sheikh Rabiul Alam had announced that students, senior citizens and persons with disabilities would receive a 25% discount on fares. However, metro rail authorities have now decided to exclude students from the scheme and reduce the discount rate for the remaining categories.
No official timeline or implementation details have yet been finalised.
Speaking at a press conference at the Secretariat on 3 March, about two weeks after assuming office, the minister said the discount would apply to three groups – students, elderly passengers and persons with disabilities – and expressed hope that it would be implemented before Eid-ul-Azha.
More than a month has passed since that announcement, but no formal rollout has been made.
When contacted, Md Nazrul Islam, director (Operations and Maintenance) of Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL), told TIMES of Bangladesh that the plan had been revised.
“Initially, students, persons with disabilities and senior citizens were to be included. But now students have been dropped, and only persons with disabilities and the elderly will be considered,” he said.
He added that instead of the previously announced 25%, the discount would be set at 15%.
The reported rollback has drawn criticism from students. Sohanur Rahman, a student at Daffodil International University, expressed frustration.
“Did the minister give us false assurances? It feels like we live in a country where promises are made but rarely fulfilled,” he said.
Attempts to reach Minister Rabiul Alam for comment were unsuccessful, as he did not respond to phone calls or messages sent via WhatsApp.
However, Nobel De, public relations officer of the road transport and bridges ministry, said the decision to exclude students had not yet been finalised.
“We will initially introduce the facility for persons with disabilities and senior citizens. Students will gradually be brought under this scheme,” he said, adding that the initiative may still be implemented before Eid.
He also disputed the claim that the discount rate had been reduced, saying no final decision had been made on whether it would be 25% or 15%.
Metro rail fares are collected automatically, with single-journey tickets issued through machines. Questions remain about how the discount will be applied in practice.
Nazrul said eligible passengers would receive identification cards from the Department of Social Services. “Passengers will present the card at stations, and the system will automatically apply the 15% discount through software integration,” he said.
He added that while technical preparations have been completed, the system is awaiting formal government approval before launch.
