Staff Reporter :
The interim government has refuted claims made by the former Sheikh Hasina administration regarding the repair of the Kazipara and Mirpur-10 metro stations, which were damaged during the student-led protests in August.
The Hasina government had estimated that repairs would take over a year and cost several crores of taka, but the interim government has debunked this narrative, completing the repairs within two months and at a fraction of the projected cost.
Mohammad Abdur Rouf, Managing Director of Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL), announced on Thursday that Kazipara station will reopen on Friday. He added that steps are underway to quickly reopen the Mirpur-10 station as well.
“Kazipara station, which was damaged, will be operational from Friday, and we are working to reopen the Mirpur-10 station shortly,” said Rouf. Additionally, metro services will now operate every Friday, with trains running from 3:30 PM to 9:00 PM between Uttara North and Motijheel with a 12-minute interval between trains.
Rouf revealed that the repair cost for Kazipara station was only Tk 20.50 lakh, compared to the several crores predicted by the Hasina administration. The repairs were completed in less than two months, demonstrating the interim government’s efficiency in addressing the issue.
Critics argue that the Hasina administration inflated the damage estimates to downplay the significance of the students’ protests, portraying the metro infrastructure as more valuable than the lives lost during the movement. The former government’s media outlets repeatedly highlighted the damage to the metro stations while ignoring the human cost of the protests, including deaths and injuries caused by law enforcement.
Hasina’s visit to the damaged stations was met with public outcry, as many felt it disregarded the suffering of students and protesters. Critics have long accused the former government of prioritizing infrastructure projects over addressing human rights violations, particularly during the protests for quota reforms.
Adding to the controversies, the recent displacement of an elastomeric bearing pad on the metro rail has caused further public frustration.
The incident, which led to a long suspension of metro services on Wednesday, has raised questions about the construction quality of the metro rail, which was built at a considerable expense. Passengers have also reported ongoing operational issues, such as malfunctioning ticket vending machines and out-of-service gates, causing long queues and delays.
Originally approved in 2012, the metro rail project was set to complete 20.10 km of elevated track from Uttara to Motijheel by June 2024, with a budget of Tk 21,985 crore.
The project has since been extended to Kamalapur Railway Station, increasing the total length to 21.26 km and the cost to Tk 33,472 crore, with funding coming primarily from Japan as a soft loan.
Speaking about the suspension of services between Agargaon and Motijheel on September 18, Abdur Rouf explained, “The metro was halted due to the displacement of an elastomeric bearing pad located between a pier and the viaduct between Bijoy Sarani and Farmgate stations.”
He further stated that a seven-member technical committee has been formed to investigate the issue and recommend measures to prevent future incidents. The committee is expected to submit its report within five working days.
The metro rail controversies have ignited a storm on social media, with many users criticizing the Awami League government’s handling of the project. Calls for a thorough audit of the metro rail finances have grown, with allegations of corruption and mismanagement emerging from multiple quarters.
The interim government’s swift action in repairing the stations stands in stark contrast to the previous administration’s inflated claims, reflecting a renewed focus on transparency and accountability.