Metro Rail services in Dhaka have resumed from Sunday (25 August) marking the first operational day in over a month.
Two trains departed from Uttara North Metro Station at 7:10am and 7:20am, heading towards Motijheel. Subsequent trains adhered to the previous schedule, though the Mirpur 10 and Kazipara stations remain closed.
The resumption follows an announcement made on Saturday (24 August) by Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) General Manager Iftekhar Hossain, who stated, "We are conducting thorough inspections, and if all goes well, Metro Rail services will recommence tomorrow."
His statement echoed the anticipation that the trains would adhere to their former schedules from Sunday onwards.
On 11 August, DMTCL Managing Director MAN Siddique told Bangladesh First that preparations for restarting the Metro Rail were in full swing.
When asked about the potential start date, he mentioned that the trains would operate without passengers for a few days before services officially resumed.
"This is known as blank operation," he explained, adding that the government would make the final decision on when passenger services could commence.
In response to inquiries about the damaged stations, Siddique clarified that reopening the Mirpur 10 and Kazipara stations was not feasible at this time, and the Metro Rail would operate excluding these two stations.
The day after this interview, DMTCL announced that services would resume on 17 August.
However, a sudden announcement on 15 August stated that the Metro Rail would not commence operations as planned on 17 August.
A subsequent notice, signed by DMTCL Secretary Mohammad Abdur Rauf, indicated that the government had instructed DMTCL to resume operations within seven days following necessary technical inspections of MRT Line 6. However, due to unforeseen circumstances, these inspections had not yet begun.
The notice further explained that, after technical inspections and non-passenger test operations, Metro Rail services would resume across the 14 remaining stations, excluding Mirpur 10 and Kazipara, with a focus on ensuring the overall safety of the Metro Rail system and its passengers.
DMTCL expressed sincere regret for the delay in restarting services as scheduled.
The shutdown was initially triggered by the widespread "Bangla Blockade" protests, which began on 6 July, led by students demanding permanent reforms to government job quotas.
Following a series of sit-in protests, the blockade escalated into a "Complete Shutdown", resulting in violence across the country, including in the capital, Dhaka.
Several government installations were attacked, with fires set to government vehicles, police boxes, and buildings.
The fast-moving Metro Rail also fell victim to the unrest, with two stations vandalised by the protesters.
