Metro rail collapse kills pedestrian in Farmgate
Staff Reporter :
Dhaka’s metro rail operations between Motijheel and Uttara were suspended on Sunday afternoon after two large bearing pad detached from an elevated pillar near Farmgate, killing a pedestrian on the spot.
The tragedy—occurring just over a year after a similar near-miss at the same location—has once again raised serious questions about safety standards and structural oversight in one of the nation’s flagship infrastructure projects.
The incident took place around 12:30pm, when the 140–150 kilogram bearing pad, a crucial rubber component that cushions the metro track against the supporting pillars, came loose and plummeted onto the busy road below.
The impact killed a man instantly, police confirmed. Meanwhile, in a Facebook post, the DMTCL announced that service between Farmgate and Motijheel resumed at 3pm, while operations on the Motijheel–Shahbagh section resumed at 7:15pm.
Tejgaon Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md Mobarak said the victim’s identity was initially unknown, but later identified as Abul Kalam, 35, a resident of Ishwarkathi village in Moktarer Char union of Naria upazila in Shariatpur.
Kalam, who lost both his parents in childhood, was the youngest of four brothers and six sisters. He grew up in the care of his elder siblings and had been working hard in Dhaka to support his extended family.
News of his sudden death shocked his relatives and neighbours back home, who described him as the family’s “most devoted and kind-hearted” member.
Following the incident, trains were halted on all routes of the Dhaka Metro Rail. Around 3:00pm, Road Transport Adviser Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan told the media at Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital that limited services between Agargaon and Uttara had resumed, while operations towards Motijheel would remain suspended until safety checks were completed.
“Cranes and technical teams are being brought in. Only after ensuring structural safety will services fully resume,” he said.
According to the Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL), the bearing pad acts as a shock-absorbing layer between the track structure and the supporting pillars. Running trains without it could cause misalignment or stress on the elevated viaduct, making immediate suspension necessary.
This marks the second such incident involving a falling bearing pad near Farmgate. On 18 September 2023, a similar detachment occurred at nearly the same spot, forcing an eleven-hour suspension of metro operations between Agargaon and Motijheel.
That incident resulted in no casualties, but it led to widespread concern among engineers and the public over maintenance standards and inspection procedures.
Experts and transport analysts now warn that the recurrence of such a catastrophic failure points to possible flaws in either the metro’s design or its maintenance regime.
“Two incidents in the same area in little more than a year cannot be dismissed as coincidence,” said one engineering expert familiar with the metro system. “There must be a comprehensive structural audit to prevent further tragedies.”
The metro rail—Bangladesh’s first urban mass transit system—was inaugurated in phases beginning in December 2022 and has since become a critical mode of daily transport for tens of thousands of commuters.
Sunday’s accident left many stranded, as thousands of passengers were forced to seek alternative transport amid midday traffic gridlock in the capital.
As of Sunday evening, DMTCL engineers and safety officials remained on-site inspecting the damaged pillar and nearby structures. Police cordoned off the area to prevent further accidents, while investigators from multiple agencies began preliminary inquiries into how the heavy component became dislodged.
For Abul Kalam’s family, however, such inquiries bring little solace. In Ishwarkathi village, relatives and neighbours gathered in disbelief as news of his death spread. “He grew up without parents and built his life through sheer effort,” said one villager.
“To lose him this way—it’s unbearable.”
The metro rail, once celebrated as a symbol of modern progress, now faces renewed scrutiny over whether its promise of safety and reliability has been compromised.
As engineers scramble to assess the damage and restore service, Dhaka is left mourning a life lost to what many fear was a preventable tragedy.